DELTDS cataloged procedure deletes [and uncatalogs] existing data set
using MVS Job Scheduler (IEFBR14 is a "do-nothing" dummy system
program). When a cataloged data set gets deleted, it also gets
uncataloged by the system.
Warning! DELTDS
procedure is potentially destructive and should be used with a
caution and only after safe experimenting as it
is described below. If you don't have clear
understanding what to expect from DELTDS, i.e. if you are not sure how
data set deletion works under MVS, please do not use DELTDS
procedure at all.
Following are parameters of the DELTDS cataloged procedure:
Parameter |
Default |
Description |
S |
Required |
|
V |
None |
|
Volume of specified data set. Needed only if the
data set is uncataloged.
|
|
Disposition MOD takes care of the case when data set to be deleted
doesn't exist — it will be both created and deleted by this job step
thus avoiding the JCL error. SPACE and DCB parameters are
necessary for this creation and their values are insignificant,
provided they are syntactically valid. Values chosen in DELTDS
always provide this validity.
This simple cataloged procedure is an essential building block for
other procedures and jobs — creating data sets by JCL DD operator is a
common task. Attempt to create a cataloged data set with the name
already existing in the catalog results in a JCL error. So it is
a standard practice to delete a data set[s] just a step before its
creation for the data output. DELTDS cataloged procedure provides
a short one-line operator to simplify this task.
|