1. INTRODUCTION
Generation Data Groups or GDGs are a group of data sets which are related to each other chronologically and functionally. These related Data Sets share a unique Data Set Name. Every GDG data set has a Generation number and Version number assigned to each data set.
EXAMPLE -- 'MYLIB.LIB.TEST.G0001V00'
'MYLIB.LIB.TEST.G0002V00'
'MYLIB.LIB.TEST.G0003V00' <-- Current Version
Generation Number -> GaaaaVnn
aaaa is between 0000 to 9999
nn is between 00 to 99
In JCL, we refer current version with 0
( Ex. MYLIB.LIB.TEST(0) )
new version going to create with +1
( Ex. MYLIB.LIB.TEST(+1) )
older versions , refer with -1 -2 -3 etc….
( Ex. MYLIB.LIB.TEST(-1) ) <- OLDER VERSION
Example for where we can use this GDGs.
Usually, In production environment, for every month we need to run jobs to create reports for that month.
Let us suppose for January, We can code it MYLIB.LIB.TEST.JAN
for FEB, We can code it MYLIB.LIB.TEST.FEB
for MAR, We can code it MYLIB.LIB.TEST.MAR
So , Every month we need change dataset name in JCL, before submitting the job. Whenever we enterred into another year, We need to delete old years data sets.
We need to do above task carefully, If we use GDG, It will take care following things
- It will maintain all generation of data sets
- It will delete/uncatalog older generation
- Very easily, we can refer current and older versions of data sets
- No need of change the JCL every time when we submit
2. CREATION OF GDG
Before using GDG , We need to create GDG index and model. IDCAMS (the ‘AMS’ stands for Access Method Services), utility is used to create GDG index.
Example JCL for creating GDG index
//MYJOB JOB (W234),'RAMESH' //STEP1 EXEC PGM=IDCAMS //SYSIN DD * DEFINE GDG(NAME(MYLIB.LIB.TEST) - LIMIT(10) - NOEMPTY - SCRATCH) /* //
In this example, IDCAMS utility is used to create an index for a GDG called MYLIB.LIB.TEST. The number of generations that can exist in this GDG is limited to ten. NOEMPTY parameter is used to specify , Once the limit is reached, the system is instructed to uncatalog the oldest generation data set within the GDG. SCRATCH parameter is used to specify to physically delete the data set which was uncataloged.
3. PARAMETERS WE CAN PASS TO IDCAMS
NAME – This parameter is used to specify the name of the data set that is to be created.
LIMIT – This parameter is used to specify the the total number of generations that the GDG may contain
EMPTY/NOEMPTY – These two parameters are mutually exclusive. EMPTY specifies that all existing generations of the GDG are to be uncataloged whever the generations of GDG reached the maximum limit NOEMPTY specifies that only the oldest generation of the GDG is to be uncataloged if the limit is reached
SCRATCH/NOSCRATCH – These two parameters are mutually exclusive. SCRATCH parameter specifies that whenever entry of the GDG is removed from the index, it should be deleted physically and uncataloged. NOSCRATCH parameter specifies that whenever entry of the GDG is removed from the index, it should be uncataloged, not physically deleted
SCRATCH and NOEMPTY are default parameters
CREATING MODEL
Once the index has been created, a model data set must be created. This model data set contains specifications for the DCB subparameters for all data sets that will belong to that GDG. Programmer can override this default values if he want.
EXAMPLE JCL
//MYJOB JOB (W983),'KRISHNA' //STEP1 EXEC PGM=IDCAMS //SYSIN DD * DEFINE GDG( - NAME(MYLIB.LIB.TEST) - LIMIT(10) - NOEMPTY - SCRATCH) //STEP2 EXEC PGM=IEFBR14 //MODEL1 DD DSN=MYLIB.LIB.TEST, // DISP=(NEW,KEEP,DELETE), // UNIT=SYSDA, // SPACE(TRK,0), // DCB=(LRECL=80,RECFM=FB,BLKSIZE=800) //
Using IEFBR14, we have created the model, Now GDG is ready to use, In next section you will learn how we will use this created GDG.
4. How to Use GDG
To use created GDG in our JCL, we need to use name (with +1 for new generation) which we used in DEFINE GDG command. (i.e. MYLIB.LIB.TEST)
EXAMPLE JCL
//MYJOB JOB (SD345),'KRISHNA REDDY'
//STEP1 EXEC PGM=COBPROG
//INFILE DD DSN=MYLIB.LIB.TEST(+1),
// DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
// UNIT=SYSDA,
// SPACE=(TRK,(20,10),RLSE),
// DCB=(MODEL.DCB,RECFM=FB,
// LRECL=80,
// BLKSIZE=800)
//
The program COBPROG is executed. A new generation data set is created via the statement
//INFILE DD DSN=MYLIB.LIB.TEST(+1)
Since we used (+1) with GDG name, it creates a new generation data set.
The DISP parameter must be set to CATLG for all new generation data sets , DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE)
We used MODEL.DCB in DCB parameter to instruct system to use subparameters specified in model GDG.
The DSN and UNIT parameters must be coded for all new generation data sets
5. ALTERING GDG DEFINITION
Some times there are situtations where we need to change the attributes of GDG. These types of tasks can be performed using ALTER command. We will use IDCAMS utitlity to alter GDG attributes.
In last section, I have create MYLIB.LIB.TEST GDG with NOEMPTY SCRATCH subparameters, now I want to change them to EMPTY NOSCRATCH respectively.
Here is the JCL that will do this:
//MYJOB JOB (WE345),'KRISHNA' //STEP1 EXEC PGM=IDCAMS //SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=A //SYSIN DD * ALTER MYLIB.LIB.TEST EMPTY NOSCRATCH /* //
In this example, the ALTER statement is used to modify the features of the GDG called MYLIB.LIB.TEST. Any generations that may exist for that GDG will now contain the modified features as well. Any new generations that are created for this GDG will now be created based on these new features.
6. DELETING GDG
We can delete an generation of GDG with IEFBR14, Here is the JCL to do that
//MYJOB JOB (ER456),'RAMESH'
//STEP1 EXEC PGM=IEFBR14
//DEL1 DD DSN=MYLIB.LIB.TEST(0) <-- Current Version
// DISP=(OLD,DELETE,DELETE)
//
In this example JCL, the program IEFBR14 is executed. The current generation of MYLIB.LIB.TEST is deleted.
To delete GDG index/generations , We need to use DELETE command in IDCAMS utility. There are two sub parameters we can use with DELETE command.
They are PURGE and FORCE
PURGE sub parameter is used in conjunction with DELETE statement to delete the GDG index, even if its retention period has not expired.
FORCE parameter can be coded on the DELETE statement to delete the GDG index, the model, and all related generation data sets, if they exist.
EXAMPLE JCL for FORCE
/MYJOB JOB (W234),'KRISHNA' //STEP1 EXEC PGM=IDCAMS //SYSIN DD * DELETE(MYLIB.LIB.TEST) GDG FORCE /*
MYLIB.LIB.TEST GDG index, the model and all related generation data sets will be deleted upon successful execution of this job step.
Maximum of 255 data sets exist within one GDG
IMPORTANT PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
In my JCL, In step1 I will going to create a new generation data set for that i gave gdgname(+1). In step2 I want to use same data set created by previous step? what number i should give to refer that
data set (i.e 0 or +1 or +2 )? (STEP1 EXECUTED SUCCESSFULLY)
+1
Why?
Even step1 executed successfully, It is not become the current generation of GDG. At the end of the job only it will become the current version of GDG. So within the job we need to refer it as new generation only, even that step completed successfully.
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