F

Fixed unblocked

The same length as the data set.

FA

Fixed unblocked ANSI

The same length as the data set.

Contains ISO/ANSI/FIPS control characters.

FB

Fixed blocked

Fixed.

Fixed record length with multiple records per block.

FBA

Fixed blocked ANSI

Fixed.

Multiple records per block where these records contain ISO/ANSI/FIPS control characters.

FBS

Fixed blocked spanned

Fixed.

Multiple records per block written as standard blocks.

FM

Fixed unblocked machine

The same length as the data set.

Contains machine code control characters.

FS

Fixed unblocked spanned

The same length as the data set.

Written as standard blocks where these records do not contain any truncated blocks or unfilled tracks.

U

Undefined

Undefined.

V

Variable unblocked

Variable.

VA

Variable unblocked ANSI

Variable.

Contains ISO/ANSI/FIPS control characters.

VB

Variable blocked

Variable.

Multiple records per block.

VBA

Variable blocked ANSI

Variable.

Multiple records per block where these records contain ISO/ANSI/FIPS control characters.

VBM

Variable blocked machine

Variable.

Multiple records per block where these records contain machine code control characters.

VBS

Variable blocked spanned

Variable.

May have multiple records per block where these records can span more than one block.

VM

Variable unblocked machine

Variable.

Contains machine code control characters.

VS

Variable unblocked spanned

Variable.

A record can span more than one block.