NetEx EFT213 Reference Manual Rel 5.4

Table 1. z/OS File Transfer Qualifiers and Default ValuesQualifier-RECLENgth (INTEGER)-REFER (STRING)-RELEase (BOOLEAN)-RETAIN (BOOLEAN)DescriptionThis qualifier specifies: (1) the length in bytes for fixed-length records,(2) the maximum length in bytes for variable-length records, or (3) themaximum length in bytes for undefined length blocks of the data set tobe created.For variable-length records, RECLENGTH is the number of bytes ofuser data per record and does not include the overhead length bytes. Anew variable length data set is actually allocated withRECLENGTH+4 bytes to allow for length byte overhead. This valuemust make sense for the current RECFORMAT and BLOCKSIZE andcan never be outside the range 1 to 32760.The default is 251 for CHARACTER and RECORD mode transfers,and 4096 for STREAM mode transfers. The minimum spelling is -RECLEN.This qualifier can be used in one of two ways. First, to cause the nextoutput data set to be placed on the same volume serial as the data setname provided via the “–REFER” qualifier. The “–REFER” qualifiercan provide this function for either DASD or tape. Second, the “–REFER” qualifier with the special data set name of ‘*’ can be used inconjunction with the “–DDname” and “–RETAIN” qualifiers to causethe next output data set to be placed immediately following the lastoutput data set associated with the “–DDname” value. This operationoccurs without an intervening tape remount, enabling tape stacking“refer back” via Dynamic Allocation. This is similar to what can beachieved with JCL and the VOL=(,RETAIN,REF=*.xxx.xxx) keywords.This qualifier requests that space allocated to a new sequential data set,but not used, is to be released when the data set is closed. It is ignoredfor partitioned data sets.The default for RELEASE is ON. The minimum spelling is -RELEThis qualifier causes the NetEx/eFT file handling routines to skip theDynamic Unallocation request usually performed after the data set hasbeen closed.Using –RETAIN requires that the –DDname qualifier be provided,since the DD name will not be unallocated at the end of the file outputoperation. This allows the DD name to be reused by subsequent outputrequests.It is important to remember that the user is now responsible for causingthe unallocation to occur, either by performing another output operationwithout the –RETAIN qualifier set, or by explicitly issuing aTSO/E FREE command. If neither of these two items happens, theDD name and device(s) associated with it remain allocated until thejob step terminates, which in the case of an interactive TSO/E sessionmay be for a longer period of time than is desirable.REF-eFT213-R5.4-08 File Handling Under IBM z/OS NetEx/eFT Page 47