Opening and Closing Large Format Data Sets

When the OPEN macro is called for a large format data set, it will in many cases require the DCBE macro's BLOCKTOKENSIZE=LARGE option. This requirement depends on the value of the BLOCKTOKENSIZE keyword in SYS1.PARMLIB member IGDSMSxx. The possible values and their effects are:
BLOCKTOKENSIZE(REQUIRE) in IGDSMSxx in SYS1.PARMLIB
Every OPEN for a large format data set requires the BLOCKTOKENSIZE=LARGE parameter on the DCBE macro, unless the data set contains no more that 65␠535 tracks on each volume and the OPEN is either for input using EXCP, BSAM or QSAM, or for update using BSAM or QSAM.
BLOCKTOKENSIZE(NOREQUIRE) in IGDSMSxx in SYS1.PARMLIB
Applications can access large format data sets under more conditions without having to signify BLOCKTOKENSIZE=LARGE on the DCBE macro. The applications and data sets must meet any of the following conditions:
  • The access method is QSAM or it is BSAM without the NOTE or POINT macros.
  • The access method is BSAM with the NOTE or POINT macros (MACRF=xP is coded) and the data set has no more than 65535 tracks on the volume and the OPEN option is INPUT or UPDAT.
  • The access method is EXCP (MACRF=E is coded) and the data set has no more than 65535 tracks on the volume and the OPEN option is INPUT.

BLOCKTOKENSIZE(NOREQUIRE) is the default if that system option is not specified.

OPEN will issue an ABEND 213-10 for large format sequential data sets if the access method is not QSAM, BSAM, or EXCP. OPEN will issue an ABEND 213-14, 213-15, 213-16, or 213-17 and EOV will issue ABEND 737-44 or 737-45 if the application program cannot access the whole data set on the volume (primary, secondary, or a subsequent volume).