Record Format—Device Type Considerations

This topic discusses which record formats are acceptable for specific devices.
  • DASD—Format-F, format-U, format-V
  • Magnetic tape—Format-D, format-F, format-U, format-V
  • Printer—Format-F, format-U, format-V
  • Card reader and punch—Format-F, format-U
  • SYSIN and SYSOUT—Format-F, format-U, format-V
For more information see Spooling and Scheduling Data Sets.
The device-dependent (DEVD) parameter of the DCB macro specifies the type of device where the data set's volume resides:
Value Device specified
  DA Direct access storage devices
  TA Magnetic tape
  PR Printer
  RD Card reader
  PC Card punch

Note: Because the DEVD option affects only for the DCB macro expansion, you are guaranteed the maximum device flexibility by letting it default to DEVD=DA and not coding any device-dependent parameter.