Constraint Control Statements › Constraint Descriptions › DEFINE: Creating a Named Constraint Prototype

DEFINE: Creating a Named Constraint Prototype

The DEFINE keyword allows you to assign a name to a group of constraints. This group of constraints can be invoked multiple times following the definition of the prototype.

The format of the DEFINE command is:

DEFINE=name

   (any   constraints you  wish)

The field name is the name that you wish to assign to the group of constraints. This name can be any alphanumeric characters. The maximum length allowed for a name is 44 characters.

You specify the USE keyword to invoke a prototype. See related topic USE: Invoking a Constraint Prototype.

The constraints specified for a prototype definition can include the USE keyword. The name specified on any USE statements must have been previously defined. DEFINEs can be nested 16 deep in this way.

This example assigns any constraints that you specify to the name name. These constraints may be referred to in later SMS class, JOB, PROGRAM, DDNAME, or CLUSTER levels.

Note: If the DEFINE occurs in an EXCLUDE mode control group, invoking this prototype EXCLUDEs the current level. Therefore, you should always define a prototype inside an INCLUDE mode control group, unless your intention is to create a synonym for EXCLUDE.