Record Access Functions

The record access functions that can be performed from a remote system, and the data set types that can use with the functions include the following. The list begins with the most restrictive functions that are limited to certain SMS-managed data sets and ends with the most widely available functions that work with any data set supported by DFM.

Modify Attributes

You can modify DDM attributes associated with the following record files:

SMS-managed SAM data sets on disk
SMS-managed VSAM ESDSs, KSDSs, RRDSs, or VRRDSs
SMS-managed PDSE members

Create File

You can create the following record files:

Non-SMS-managed data sets
SMS-managed SAM data sets on disk
SMS-managed VSAM ESDSs, KSDSs, RRDSs, or VRRDSs
SMS-managed VSAM alternate indexes and alternate index paths
- An alternate index and alternate index path are created for you when you create a DDM alternate index file (AIF).
- The VSAM base data set must meet certain requirements, see Using VSAM Data Sets.
SMS-managed PDSE members
- A PDSE will be created for you first, if it does not yet exist.
PDS members, with these limitations:
- You can only create PDS members if the PDS already exists. If a new data set is required, a PDSE will be created.
- SMS-managed PDSs are recommended, but you can also create PDS members in a non-SMS-managed data set.
- PDS members do not support DDM attributes.

Delete File

You can delete the following record files:

SMS-managed SAM data sets on disk
SMS-managed VSAM ESDSs, KSDSs, RRDSs, or VRRDSs
- If you delete a VSAM base data set with an alternate index, the alternate index will be deleted for you.
SMS-managed VSAM alternate indexes and alternate index paths
- These are deleted for you when you delete DDM AIFs.
SMS-managed PDSE members
- Even if you delete the last member of a data set, the data set itself will not be deleted.
PDS members (whether or not they are SMS-managed)
- Even if you delete the last member of a data set, the data set itself will not be deleted.

Clear File

You can clear the following record files, whether or not they are SMS-managed:

SAM data sets on disk
Reusable VSAM ESDSs, KSDSs, RRDSs, or VRRDSs
PDSE members and PDS members

Other Access Functions

You can use read, write, and positioning functions with the following record files, and you can rename them or retrieve their DDM attributes:

SAM data sets on disk
VSAM ESDSs, KSDSs, RRDSs, or VRRDSs (reusable or nonreusable)
DDM AIFs (and their associated VSAM base data sets)
- DDM attributes are retrieved from the VSAM alternate index or VSAM base data set, depending on the attribute.
PDSE members and PDS members

Note: PDS members and non-SMS-managed data sets do not support their own DDM attributes. If you retrieve DDM attributes, you will receive default values.