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Specifying Data Set Names

Many CA VM:Tape commands require or accept data set names. A data set name can include up to 44 of the following characters:

If you want to include any other characters, you must enclose the data set name in double quotation marks.

If you want to specify a data set name that belongs to a generation data group (GDG), the data set name can include up to 35 characters.

Note: For information about GDGs, see Using Generation Data Groups.

The parameter or option that specifies a data set name is usually DSN dsname. When you need to supply a data set name on a command, you can either specify it explicitly or ask CA VM:Tape to prompt you for it. To have CA VM:Tape prompt you for the data set name, specify a question mark (?) for dsname on the command.

Each part of the data set name is called a qualifier. For example, PRIMARY.DATA.SET includes three qualifiers. You can use a period or a space to separate qualifiers. If you use spaces, CA VM:Tape inserts periods during processing.

When you specify a data set name explicitly, CA VM:Tape assumes that all characters that follow the DSN keyword and precede any options are part of the data set name.