Although PDSE and PDSE1 errors are not common, when errors do occur in the code for PDSEs and PDSE1s, the results often extend beyond the job or user who encountered the error. This is a result of the complexity of the PDSE and PDSE1 implementation, its use of common control blocks in CSA, and the execution of the majority of its code under the user's tasks. This creates a situation where a failure during the recovery from cancel or force can break or prevent access to a data set.

Two operator commands simplify the determination of what may be broken. In some cases, the repair of the PDSE and PDSE1 structures or the selection of which element of the system should be terminated is also determined. The two commands are: the VARY SMS,PDSE | PDSE1, ANALYSIS command (referred to as the ANALYSIS command) and the VARY SMS,PDSE | PDSE1, FREELATCH command (referred to as the FREELATCH command).

These commands are commonly used when the processing for one or more PDSEs or PDSE1s hang.