MERGE › Overview › TAPEPULL Processing

TAPEPULL Processing

Since some installations require that all tapes be pulled from the tape library and be provided with the job that will use them before it goes into execution, a facility to generate such a list for merge processing is provided. This facility is invoked through the TAPEPULL parameter.

Two steps are required:

1. Run MERGE with the SIMULATE and TAPEPULL=GEN parameters (note that if you fail to specify SIMULATE, CA Disk will force a simulation run for you). This will accomplish two things:
   • Produce the list of tape volumes that will be used as input for the LIVE merge run, enabling operators to pull them from the library
   • Save the list in a disk data set, such that a subsequent LIVE run can use them as input

   Note: The tape pull list will specify only tape volumes to be used for input for the merge run. If output is directed to tape, appropriate tape volumes will be called for during the live run, as they are needed.

   There is a significant distinction between the printed tape pull list and the list written to disk. The printed list will not contain any keys of disk archive data sets that can have been selected for processing, whereas the list written to disk (which can be used by merge in a subsequent live run) will contain these keys. It is assumed that the printed list is used to actually allow tape volumes to be pulled and readied prior to the live run.

   The TAPEPULL List written to disk will only include the first volume of multi-volume files. The TAPEPULL printed List will include all volumes for operations use.

2. Run MERGE without the SIMULATE parameter and with TAPEPULL=USE specified.

   It is important to note that when running merge using the TAPEPULL option, the volume selection is done during step 1 when the list is being generated. Therefore, all selection criteria desired should be specified on the command at this time.

   Note: All parameters specified on TAPEPULL=GEN must also be specified on TAPEPULL=USE. The only additional parameters that can be added to the command are COPY and EXCLUDE.

   When using the TAPEPULL function, an additional JCL statement must be supplied in the merge JCL procedure. It can be supplied as a JCL override or be included directly in the JCL procedure. The DD statement TAPEPULL must point to a sequential data set with the attributes RECFM=FB, LRECL=80, BLKSIZE=4000. The data set should be allocated prior to the merge run.

   MERGE, by default, bypasses multi-volume TAPE files with message 4005; however, it does include multi-volume DISK files. If you desire to also process multi-volume TAPE files, use the INCLUDE command parameter described in INCLUDE=. You can use the MULTVOL or INCLUDE parameters to over-ride the bypassing of multi-volume tape files.

   Use the following DD statement as an example. It must be included for both the TAPEPULL=GEN and TAPEPULL=USE options.

   //TAPEPULL DD DSN=SAMS.DISK.MERGE.TAPEPULL,DISP=OLD