Catalog Search Order for DELETE

If this is not a generic delete, the order in which catalogs are searched to locate an entry to be deleted is:

  1. If a catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only that catalog is searched. If the entry is not found, a no-entry-found error is returned.
  2. If the entry is identified with a qualified entry name, and:
    • One or more of its qualifiers is the same as the name or the alias of a catalog,
    If the entry is found, no other catalog is searched.
  3. If the entry is not found, the master catalog is searched. If the entry is not found in the master catalog, a no-entry-found error is returned.

If this is a generic delete, the order in which catalogs are searched to locate all applicable entries to be deleted is:

  1. If a catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only that catalog is searched. If an entry that matches the supplied qualifiers is not found, a no-entry-found error is returned.
  2. If the entry is identified with a qualified entry name and if one of the following situations occur, then the catalog search continues with step 4:
    • One or more of its qualifiers is the same as the name of a catalog
    • One or more of its qualifiers is the same as the alias of a catalog
    • The first qualifier is the same as the name of a VSAM user catalog
  3. The master catalog is searched.
  4. If an entry matching the supplied qualifiers is not found in any of the catalogs searched, a no-entry-found error is returned.

If this is a mask delete, which is having the MASK keyword specified in the DELETE command, the order in which catalogs are searched to locate all applicable entries to be deleted is:

  1. If a catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only that given catalog is searched. If there are no entries matching the supplied mask filter entry in that catalog, a no-entry-found error is returned.
  2. If no catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only the master catalog is search. No other catalogs are searched. If there are no entries matching the supplied mask filter entry in the master catalog. A no-entry-found error is returned.

Caution: Unwanted deletions can take place if the catalog is not specified with the CATALOG parameter. Other catalogs are searched, according to the order previously described, and any entries matching the supplied qualifiers are deleted.

For information about generic catalog selection for the DELETE command, see Generic Catalog Selection for DELETE and LISTCAT.

Parent topic: Order of Catalog Use