tape DD Statement

The tape DD statement can be coded:

  //tape DD  DSNAME=xxxxxxxx,UNIT=xxxx,VOLUME=SER=xxxxxx,
  //         DISP=(...,KEEP),LABEL=(...,...),DCB=(TRTCH=C,DEN=x)

When unloading a data set from one DASD volume to another, the data set name (DSN=) must be coded on the DD statement for the data set to be unloaded. An unloaded data set on a DASD volume can only be loaded to the same device type from which it was unloaded.

A utility control statement parameter refers to the tape DD statement for label and mode information.

The date on which a data set is moved or copied to a magnetic tape volume is automatically recorded in the HDR1 record of a standard tape label if a TODD parameter is specified in a utility control statement. An expiration date can be specified by including the EXPDT or RETPD subparameters of the LABEL keyword in the DD statement referred to by a TODD parameter.

A sequence number, for a data set on a tape volume, or a specific device number (for example, unit address 190), must be specified on a utility control statement instead of a reference to a DD statement. To move or copy a data set from or to a tape volume containing more than one data set, specify the sequence number of the data set in the utility control statement. To move or copy a data set from or to a specific device, specify the unit address (rather than a group name or device type) in the utility control statement. To copy to a unit record or unlabeled tape volume, specify any standard name or number in the utility control statement.

The tape DD statement can be used to communicate DCB attributes of data sets residing on tape volumes that do not have standard labels to IEHMOVE. If no DCB attributes are specified, an undefined record format and a block size of 2560 are assumed. However, in order to recognize unloaded data sets on an unlabeled tape volume, the DCB attributes must be specified as follows:

 DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800).

In no case can the block size exceed 32760 bytes.