Default Retention

An installation-defined Default Retention (CA 1 system option RP) is assigned to any tape data set that is created without an expiration date, retention period or ACCODE parameter in the JCL. The default can be either a given number of days or CA 1 keyword date. A status indicator in the TMC reflects the assignment of the Default Retention.

When the Default Retention is taken, CA 1 will set another status indicator to indicate that the expiration date is eligible to be overridden if there is an entry for the data set in the Retention Data Set (RDS).
When the JCL provides an EXPDT, RETPD or ACCODE parameter, this status indicator is not turned on. However, CA 1 system option RO does allow the indicator to be set, regardless of the JCL specification, so that you can use the RDS to enforce tape retention standards in your environment.

In either case, if there is no corresponding entry in the RDS, CA 1 honors the date calculated at OPEN for output.