Copying Program Objects (COPYGRP and COPYGROUP Statements)

It is recommended that you use the COPYGRP or COPYGROUP statement to copy PDS load modules or PDSE program objects and their aliases from or to a PDSE data set. Program objects can have aliases that are longer than eight characters. Using the COPYGRP or COPYGROUP statement will ensure that these longer aliases are copied along with their member.

Use the COPYGRP or COPYGROUP statement to begin a group copy, unload, or load. A group consists of a member and all of its aliases. COPYGRP or COPYGROUP treats the group as a single entity.

COPYGRP can be used to copy a data set when either the input data set or the output data set, or both, are PDSE:

PDSE to PDSE
PDSE to PDS
PDS to PDSE

COPYGROUP can be used to copy a data set when either the input data set or the output data set, or both, are PDS or PDSE:

PDSE to PDSE
PDSE to PDS
PDS to PDSE
PDS to PDS

For unloading groups:

Using COPYGRP: PDSE to PS
Using COPYGROUP: PDSE to PS, or PDS to PS

For loading groups:

Using COPYGRP: PS to PDSE
Using COPYGROUP: PS to PDSE, or PS to PDS

If neither data set is a PDSE, the request is treated the as a COPY operation subject to the syntax requirements of COPYGRP.

When using the COPYGRP or COPYGROUP statement:

All aliases in a group will be copied with the member or neither the aliases or the member in a group will be copied.
There can be only one INDD per copy operation.
You can use the SELECT statement to selectively copy members. Either the member name or an alias can be specified to copy the member and all of its aliases.
Do not indicate replace (R) on the SELECT statement.
The EXCLUDE statement is not supported.