OPENEMPT—initialize empty data sets (used with StopX37/II)

Data sets that are not initialized when they are allocated are a potential hazard to subsequent job steps and jobs.

z/OS does not initialize a data set at allocation. If the data set remained uninitialized, it would retain its full allocated space. If an uninitialized data set is later opened by another program, one of the following results will occur:

• The job will receive an I/O error because an end-of-file mark has not been written.
• The job will read a record from a prior data set and possibly process it as normal data.
• The System-Determined Block Size (SDB) might not be driven, resulting in an S001 abend.

OPENEMPT intercepts and prevents most uninitialized data set problems by initializing empty data sets at job step termination. Additionally, OPENEMPT the initialized data set invokes the SPACRLSE function to release allocated unused space.

For more information, see: