Specifying a data set name with example

Example 1

In Example 1, File-AID searches the catalog for a data set name containing the three specified levels. Each level is separated by a period ( . ). The entered name is processed as it is entered.

Example 2

Example 2 specifies the member called PROG1 within the library UNIT.TEST.CNTL.

Unqualified data set names

An unqualified data set name is not enclosed in quotes (’ ’). The TSO prefix is then concatenated to the beginning of the entered value.

Use the TSO PROFILE command to display the value of your TSO prefix. If the TSO PROFILE NOPREFIX option is set, the TSO prefix is not added to an unqualified data set name.

Example 1

Add the TSO prefix to the specified dataset name to complete the name.

The result is:

userprefix.DATASET.NAME.

Unqualified VSAM data set names are prefixed with the installation-defined optional VSAM high-level name (For more information, see VSAMFILE_HIGH_LEVEL_QUALIFIER in the VSAM Allocation Information). Also, a user-defined VSAM intermediate name default can be set in the System Parameters (option 0.1). See System parameters. When a search fails for an unqualified dataset name, the VSAM name is constructed and the catalog is searched again to see if the cluster can be located.

Example 2

In Example 1, if userprefix.DATASET.NAME was not found, File-AID constructs the following dataset name for the cluster search:

vsam-high-level.vsam-intermediate-name.DATASET.NAME

Pattern data set names

You can enter a pattern name in any Dataset name, Search name, Model dataset name, and Base cluster name field to produce a list of data set names that match the pattern. You can select a data set from this list with the S line command.

The pattern data set name is used most often as a data set name prefix. This means that all data sets whose high-level qualifiers match the pattern dataset name are listed and there are no restrictions on the remaining qualifiers. The exceptions to the prefix rule are the slash (/) and plus (+) pattern characters.

The prefix concept is illustrated in the following figure. ’USERID9.FASAMP.*’ is entered in the Edit dataset name field.

Specifying a pattern dataset name

The following figure lists all the data sets that have a first-level qualifier of USERID9, a second-level qualifier of FASAMP, and any number of subsequent qualifiers: USERID9.FASAMP.EMPLOYEE, USERID9.FASAMP.NEWJCL.TEST, etc.

Displaying results of pattern dataset name search

In File-AID’s Dataset name field and Catalog utility (option 3.4) search name field, the first character of the first-level qualifier of the pattern data set name must be an explicit qualifier with no pattern characters.

File-AID’s VTOC utility (option 3.7) allows pattern characters at any level within the pattern data set name for the Search name field.

File-AID does not allow a pattern name in the dataset name and member name field at the same time.

Pattern Characters

The valid pattern characters allowed in File-AID pattern data set names are the asterisk (*), slash (/), plus (+), question mark (?), and percent sign (%):

Asterisk (*)

The asterisk is a qualifier-name wildcard. It represents any single-level qualifier, or partial-level qualifier when preceded by 1 to 7 explicit characters.

Example:

Lists all the data sets with a first-level qualifier of USERID9, a second-level qualifier beginning with TEST, and any number (including zero) of remaining qualifiers: USERID9.TEST, USERID9.TEST.DATA, USERID9.TESTAA.DATA, USERID9.TESTAB.NODE.NODE, etc.

Question Mark (?) and Percent Sign (%)

The question mark and the percent sign are both single-character wildcards. Either character represents a single character in the specified position of the qualifier. A single-character wildcard can be used up to 8 times within a qualifier, but a character must exist in that position.

Example:

These examples both match data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID and second-level qualifier of TESTAA and TESTAB, but not TESTOUT or TEST. They also match USERID.TESTAA.NODE and USERID.TESTAB.NODE.NODE.

Slash (/)

The slash specifies the number of levels in the dataset name. Dataset names with more levels than those specified in the Dataset name are not listed. The / must be the last element in the Dataset name. The / and the + cannot both be used in the same Dataset name.

Example:

This example matches USERID.TEST.ALPHA and USERID.TEST.BETA. It does not match USERID.TEST.ALPHA.BETA because there are too many levels or USERID.TEST because there are too few levels.

Plus (+)

The plus tells File-AID to ignore any intermediate-level qualifiers. Use the + after the high-level qualifier and before the lowest-level qualifier to have File-AID ignore any intermediate qualifiers. In effect, it matches zero or more qualifiers in the name. Only one + can be used per name.

The portion of the name before the + represents a pattern for the high-level qualifier(s) of the data set name; the portion after the + represents a pattern for the low-level qualifier(s). When the + is used, only data set names that begin and end exactly as the pattern does are displayed.

The / and the + cannot both be used in the same pattern data set name. The + implies a / at the end of the pattern data set name.

Example:

This example matches USERID9.BETA.TEST, USERID9.TEST, or USERID9.FILEAID.ALPHA.SEQ.TEST, since they all begin with USERID9 and end with TEST. It does not match USERID9.BETA.TEST.CLUSTER, because the + indicates that TEST must be the last qualifier in the dataset name.

In only the VTOC utility (3.7), the + (plus) may be used as the high-level qualifier in the search name.

Example:

This example locates all data sets starting with anything but ending in.JCL.CNTL.

Pattern data set name examples

Examples 1 through 5 are valid entries in a Dataset name or Search name field. Examples 6 through 9, in the following section, are only valid in the VTOC utility Search name field.

Example 1

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any second-level qualifier, a third-level qualifier of MISC, and any number of qualifiers beyond the third-level. Matches USERID.DATA.MISC and USERID.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS. It does not match USERID.BETA.ACCOUNTS.MISC because the third-level qualifier is not MISC.

Example 2

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any second-level qualifier, and a third-level qualifier of MISC, which must be the last qualifier. Matches USERID.DATA.MISC. It does not match USERID.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS because there is a qualifier in the name beyond MISC. It does not match USERID.BETA.ACCOUNTS.MISC because there is more than one qualifier between USERID and MISC.

Example 3

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, a second-level qualifier that begins with ACCTID, any third-level qualifier, a fourth-level qualifier of MISC, and any number of qualifiers beyond the fourth-level. Matches USERID.ACCTID.DATA.MISC, USERID.ACCTID99.SCRIPT.MISC, and USERID.ACCTIDX.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS.NODE.

Example 4

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any number (including zero) of intervening qualifiers, a second-to-last-level qualifier that can be anything (but must be there), and a last-level qualifier of MISC.

Matches USERID.DATA.MISC and USERID.BETA.EXAMPLES.TEXT.MISC. It does not match USERID.MISC because the * requires that there is at least one qualifier between USERID and MISC. It does not match USERID.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS because the last-level qualifier must be MISC.

Example 5

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any number (including zero) of intervening qualifiers, a second-to-last-level qualifier of MISC, and a last-level qualifier that can be anything (but must be there). Matches USERID.MISC.DATA, USERID.NODE.MISC.NODE, and USERID.NODE.NODE.MISC.DATA. It does not match USERID.MISC because the * requires that the last-level qualifier exist. It does not match USERID.MISC.NODE.NODE because the + implies a / at the end of the pattern data set mask, which indicates that MISC must be the second-to-the-last qualifier in the dataset name.

VTOC utility search name mask examples

In addition to Examples 1 through 5, the following examples are also valid for the VTOC utility Search name field.

Example 6

Searches for data sets with any high-level qualifier, a second-level qualifier of TEST, and a third-level qualifier that can be anything (but must be there), and any number (including zero) of low-level qualifiers. Matches USERID1.TEST.NODE and USERID9.TEST.NODE.NODE.

Example 7

Searches for data sets with any number of high-level qualifiers, a second-to-last-level qualifier of TEST, and a last-level qualifier that can be anything (but must be there). Matches TEST.NODE, USERID1.TEST.NODE, and USERID9.NODE.TEST.NODE.

Example 8

Searches for data sets with any number of high-level qualifiers, a third-to-last-level qualifier of TEST, and two more qualifiers that can be anything (but must be there). Example 8 is functionally equivalent to the pattern: +.TEST.*.*. Matches TEST.NODE.NODE, USERID1.TEST.NODE.NODE, and USERID9.NODE.TEST.NODE.NODE.

Example 9

Searches for data sets with any high-level qualifier, a second-level qualifier that begins with TEST, and any number (including zero) of low-level qualifiers. Example 9 is functionally equivalent to the pattern: *.TEST+. Matches USERID.TEST, USERID1.TEST.NODE, USERID.TESTFILE.NODE, and USERID9.TEST.NODE.NODE.

Last referenced file list

The Last Referenced File List screen displays up to the last 50 files that you used with File-AID. It is displayed when you enter the FILELIST primary command or blank out the Dataset name or zFS path field on the Dataset Specification screen.

Primary commands enable you to sort by filename or referenced date and locate an entry by filename. Line commands allow you to select a file for processing, lock, unlock, and delete entries from the list, display the complete zFS path name, and display related data set information. The related data set information includes the Record Layout/XREF and Selection Criteria files that you associated with the referenced files. See Last-Referenced-File-List-panel for more information.

Pattern member names

You can specify pattern characters in a Member name field to limit the members selected for display. You cannot specify pattern characters in both the dataset name and member name fields at the same time. The asterisk (*), question mark (?), and percent sign (%) are valid pattern characters for the member name field. The member name must be enclosed in parentheses (( )) when entered in the Dataset name field.

The ? (question mark) and the % (percent sign) function as single-character wildcards. An asterisk (*) can be used as a partial or entire member name. It functions as a blank when used to represent the entire member name and produces a complete member list. When the asterisk is entered along with explicit characters, it functions as a single-character wildcard unless it is the last character and then it matches any valid number of remaining characters.

Example

The following figures show the asterisk used as the last character in the mask to select record layout dataset members.

Specifying a pattern member name

Displaying results of pattern member name search