System Components and Execution › CA TLMS Major Features › Auxiliary Messages

Auxiliary Messages

One of the designations required during Volume Master File initialization is MESSAGE=Y|N. If MESSAGE=Y is specified, you can use auxiliary messages to display special handling instructions for data sets. Auxiliary messages can provide routing and disposition instructions such as:

• Holding a tape data set in the data center for an upcoming job
• Delivering a tape data set to an outside company
• Calling a person when the job ends
• Immediately moving a tape data set to a certain area
• Returning a tape data set to the library only under a specific condition

These messages are automatically sent to the operator console when a data set is closed. They can optionally be routed to a different console by specifying that console number using the ROUTAUX= system option.

There are two ways to define auxiliary messages for data sets:

• When a data set is created, use the EXPDT JCL parameter and specify LABEL=EXPDT=970mm, where mm is the number of the message that is to be displayed at the close of the data set.
• Use the AUX= system option to associate specific data set names or qualifiers with specific message numbers. This allows you to display the same message for all data sets that begin with the same qualifier.

Auxiliary messages can be updated and displayed either online or in batch mode, as detailed in the User Guide.