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Purging Archive Data Sets/Volumes

Use the PURGE command to delete entries from the archive index regardless of their expiration dates. It applies to both archived data sets (DSNINDEX records) and archive volumes (ARCHVOLS records). Like the DSNDELETE command, when all data sets are deleted that exist on an archive volume, the archive volume will be released from the archives.

The PURGE command performs an uncatalog action for the tape (per sysparm UNCATARC), uncatalogs archived data sets (per sysparm UNCATPSU), and interfaces to tape management systems to release the tape (per sysparm TMSCTLEX).

Careful consideration should be done prior to doing a PURGE. If a PURGE must be done prior to a REBUILD, to prevent the previous actions from occurring, specify the following sysparms in the PURGE job:

'UNCATARCN'
'UNCATPSUX'
'TMSCTLEX        '(sysparm followed by 8 blanks)
'IXMCLEANY'

If it is necessary to retrieve one (or only a few) data set(s) from an ARCHVOLS, see Archive Index Rebuild Utility for a method to retrieve the data sets that will not cause any undesirable side effects that PURGE can cause.

Note: The ARCHVOL entry is also enqueued to prevent it from being deleted while in use.