Page 1 of 1

List of dataset names as dd input

PostPosted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:43 pm
by Me12345
Hi,
I would like to know if anyone knows of a way to use a dataset that contains the names of multiple other datasets as an input for a dd statement. As a simple example I have a dataset that contains a list of 2000 other dataset names that I want to use as input list for a job that merges all the contents of the 2000 datasets into 1. I can do it with with third party scheduling and automation products and with rexx but I want to know if anyone knows of a way to do it with standard ibm utilities or general jcl?
Regards,
Me

Re: List of dataset names as dd input

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:32 am
by steve-myers
No.

Re: List of dataset names as dd input

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:47 am
by Robert Sample
There is a limit to the number of DD statements that can be present in a job; depending upon your site parameters, 2000 file allocations in a job or TSO session could exceed that limit. If this is the case, there is no standard JCL nor utility that could possibly do what you want. In such a case, you'd have to use dynamic allocation for each data set, then free the data set after the close before allocating the next data set -- or you'd run into the DD limit again.