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Identifying a Data Set

In many of the Compress functions, you are asked to specify a data set or a group of data sets. This input can be requested in a window as shown in the previous panel or can be required in an input field on a panel. The window allows a number of different ways to identify data sets to be processed: a single data set name, a data set name mask with special characters, a data set name pattern with special characters, or a relative generation data set name.

If a single data set or a group of data sets is allowed as input, the input field indicates that you can enter a Data Set Name or Pattern. A group of data sets can be represented by specifying a mask or pattern. The method used to identify a group of data sets is very similar to the method used frequently in the TSO and ISPF environments, but CA Compress has some additional capabilities. Following is a full description of the file selection facility used when special characters are specified in a data set name mask or pattern.