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Fixed to Variable Length Record Transfers

When sending a file of fixed length records to a z/OS data set of variable length records, be sure that the record length of the target file is at least four bytes longer than that of the source file. This accommodates the four-byte prefix that z/OS systems use to define variable length records.

IBM iSeries systems do not support variable length records. Instead, they create target files whose fixed record length is the same as the largest variable length record of the source file. This can waste considerable disk space.