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Space parameter while Copying GDG into Tape.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 3:28 pm
by Shanthi_Palani
Hi Experts,
Please help me with the below.
I have a PS file and it gets copied into a gdg file every month. This GDG file will reside in tape. I don't see anywhere we have given space parameter. On what basis it will take the space or it will copy the entire contents from the source file.

//Infile dd dsn= source PS file, display=she
//Outfile dd dsn=target GDG file, disp=(new,catlg),
//. Unit=cart,label=(2,SL), Volume=aff=*.output1


Actually this time the PS file is having large number of records as compared to other months(5 times than that of the prev month). And hence the jobs that copies this PS file failed with space abend as they didn't cater for the space correctly.
But this GDG file copy step went fine.
The said gdg job has series of backup datasets.

Thank you.

Re: Space parameter while Copying GDG into Tape.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 3:56 pm
by steve-myers
The JCL SPACE parameter is ignored when the data set specified by the DD statement is assigned to a tape drive.

By the way, for at least the 1,000,000th time. There is no such thing as a "PS file." The correct term is "sequential data set." "PS" refers to a data set organization and is only used with the DSORG parameter in the DCB specification. Do not use it in any other context.

Re: Space parameter while Copying GDG into Tape.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:44 pm
by Terry Heinze
If you suspect you're going to need more than 5 tape volumes, use the VOL=(,,,N) parameter which will allocate N volumes of tape and N is a multiple of 5.