IBM Mainframe Forum

in a vsam file where indexes are actually stored? and how can we delete records from a vsam file?

Hello,

Here is a link to an IBM redbook called Vsam Demystified:
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/s ... .html?Open

This document has all of the information you will need. Suggest you download the pdf so it will always be easily available.

The delete/define for the vsam file specifies where the index is to be stored.

hi,

is it possible to view the contents of a vsam file just by opening it?

How would you view the contents of the VSAM data set without opening it?

Opening the VSAM file implies a program is being run -- that program could show you the contents of the data set, depending upon which program it is.

suma m.s wrote:hi,

is it possible to view the contents of a vsam file just by opening it?

You have to OPEN a VSAM dataset (not "file")before you can do anything (other than delete it!) with it. If you want to view the contents of a VSAM dataset you can use the PRINT command in IDCAMS.

The index of a VSAM dataset is stored in an index dataset. The index dataset is automatically allocated when you define a KSDS dataset. You can get the actual name of the index dataet by using the IDCAMS LISTCAT command. You can view the index as a separate entity by using the IDCAMS PRINT command, but it won't do you much good unless you really know VSAM internals.

suma m.s wrote:hi,

is it possible to view the contents of a vsam file just by opening it?

you could use IDCAMS's Print to print either all or few records

As far as I am aware an OPEN in any language does not retrieve data so that language would have to issue reads.