z/OS V1R6.0 DFSMS Access Method Services for Catalogs

Chapter 12. DEFINE ALIASThe DEFINE ALIAS command defines an alternate name for a non-VSAM data setor a user catalog. The syntax of the DEFINE ALIAS command is:DEFINEALIAS(NAME(aliasname)RELATE(entryname))SYMBOLICRELATE(entryname))[CATALOG(catname)]DEFINE can be abbreviated: DEFDEFINE ALIAS ParametersThe DEFINE ALIAS command uses the following parameters.Required ParametersALIASDefines an alias for a user catalog or non-VSAM data set.If the entryname in the RELATE parameter is non-VSAM, choose an aliasname inthe NAME parameter. This is done to ensure the multilevel alias facility selectsthe catalog that has the entryname.The multilevel alias facility and the system-generated name format requiresspecial attention:vvWhen you DEFINE a VSAM data set, point the data/index name to thesame catalog as the cluster; otherwise, an error occurs.During the DEFINE of a VSAM cluster or a generation data group (GDG), ifthe name of the cluster or GDG matches an existing alias or user catalog, theDEFINE request is denied with a duplicate name error. This prevents thedata/index component or a generation data set (GDS) from becominginaccessible.v When you add an alias to the catalog, ensure it does not cause existing datasets to become inaccessible.For more details about using aliases for catalogs, see z/OS DFSMS: ManagingCatalogs.NAME(aliasname)Is the alias (the alternate entryname) for a user catalog or non-VSAM dataset. An alias must be unique within a catalog.RELATE(entryname)Is the name of the entry (the user catalog entryname or the non-VSAMdata set name) for which the alias is defined.Abbreviation: REL© Copyright IBM Corp. 1973, 2004 123