IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi,

I need to copy a GDG generation files into another new GDG generation files.

Like:
Say I have genarations for GDG base A as
A.1
A.2
A.3

I need to do one to one copy
like A.1 to B.1
A.2 to B.2
A.3 to B.3 where B is the another GDG base

Please suggest me.

What is the problem that you are having? It seems a trivial IEBGENER/ICEGENER/DFSORT task - input:A.1(0) output B.1(+1) etc for each generation.

Hello,

IMHO this is less DFSORT more of JCL/UTILITIES/VSAM question.
From DFSORT stand-point, use a simple SORT FIELDS=COPY to copy datasets.

Coming to A.1 to B.1 and so on, there are multiple ways of achieving it, depending on what you have; for instance:
a. In case both the GDG base (for A and B datasets) have same starting generation, then a simple +1, +2 and so on coupled with a 'NEW,CATLG' in your JCL would yield similar generation numbers
b. In case they are not same or can be different depending on how they were created, then it can require a bit of coding. Assuming that you can use REXX, do a LISTCAT on the GDG base of A, refer the 'Associations', use SUBSTR to get the GDG generation details from here. Append the generation name to B dataset name. Here you can use ALLOC to allocate the generation or even better, submit a JCL to INTRDR which would create the new GDG generation with the name you've just built, and then subsequently copy A to B in the next step.

A word of caution, how do you plan to ensure that the generations are always serialized, meaning - say two generations of A G0011V00 and G0016V00 are to be copied to B. Now basis the requirement A.G0011V00 is to be copied to B.G0011V00 and A.G0016V00 to B.G0016V00. Now, since A never had such a naming convention restriction, hence it'll have G0012 etc generations as well; how do you plan to control this for B?
Also, why go through this ordeal at all?

Hi,

I apologize for posting here...

As suggested, if i consider instance a, i dont know how many generation A have,When i will be processing copy step i may have one or more than one A generations. So i cant give +1, +2 and so on.

can you suggest me without using REXX how can i achieve this

Hello,

Okies; going with option- a, you can add the concepts of option- b and drive the results. Basically, perform a LISTCAT, route the output of the same to a DS (use ALLOC/EXECIO/DISKW), use EXECIO/DISKR to read the LISTCAT output, filter out data under 'ASSOCIATIONS' using a DO-WHILE loop. Now you'll have the generation names which you need to build.
After this you can use QUEUE command to tailor/build your JCL in the REXX.
Use the aforementioned keywords to search the forum and the web to understand their usage, build a logic around it, test it with TRACE option. If you're stuck, share it here and we can guide you further.

Hope this helps.

can you suggest me without using REXX how can i achieve this

Write a program in the language of your choice (REXX doesn't have to be the choice) to parse the output of a LISTCAT, generating JCL to be submitted via the internal reader to copy each generation from A to B. Or, use dynamic allocation to copy them inside the program without submitting a job. But if you are looking for a solution that can copy an unknown number of generations, one at a time, you MUST either submit another job or use dynamic allocation -- period.

if gdg B is empty why not use a plain simple DFDSS COPY RENAME

yea.. gdg B is empty.. because after the completion of the process i am deleting gdg generations.

So, a rename is much faster than a copy/delete.