When moving or copying a BDAM data set from one device to another device of the same type, relative track and relative block integrity are maintained.

When moving or copying a BDAM data set to a larger device, relative track integrity is maintained for data sets with variable or undefined record formats; relative block integrity is maintained for data sets with fixed record formats.

When moving or copying a BDAM data set to a smaller device or a tape, the data set is unloaded. An unloaded data set is loaded only when it is moved or copied to the same device type from which it was unloaded.

BDAM data sets with variable-spanned records can be copied from one DASD volume to a compatible DASD volume provided that the record size does not exceed 32K bytes.

Because a BDAM data set can reside on one to five volumes (all of which must be mounted during any move or copy operation), it is possible for the data set to span volumes. However, single variable-spanned records are contained on one volume.

Relative track integrity is preserved in a move or copy operation for spanned records. Moved or copied BDAM data sets occupy the same relative number of tracks that they occupied on the source device.

If a BDAM data set is unloaded (moved or copied to a smaller device or tape), it must be loaded back to the same device type from which it was originally unloaded.

When moving or copying variable-spanned records to a larger device, record segments are combined and respanned if necessary. Because the remaining track space is available for new records, variable-spanned records are unloaded before being moved or copied back to a smaller device.

If you wish to create a BDAM data set without using data management BDAM macros, all data management specifications must be followed. Special attention must be given to data management specifications for R0 track capacity record content, segment descriptor words, and the BFTEK=R parameter.

When moving or copying a multivolume data set, the secondary allocation for BDAM data sets should be at least two tracks.