Viewing GDGs and GDSs

In the Remote Systems view, a GDG is shown as a folder that contains GDSs. A GDS can be a sequential or a partitioned data set. The name of each GDS in a GDG consists of the GDG name followed by the absolute generation and version numbers. The generation and version numbers are in the form GxxxxVyy, where xxxx is an unsigned 4-digit decimal generation number (0001 - 9999) and yy is an unsigned 2-digit decimal version number (00 - 99).

A GDS can also be accessed by using the GDG name followed by a relative generation number. The current generation is represented by 0, the previous generation by -1, and so on. You use +n to allocate a new generation. The allocated generation number is the current generation + n. The relative generation number does not count skipped generations. If a GDG contains GDSs A.B.C.G0001V00 and A.B.C.G0003V00, A.B.C.G0001V00 is A.B.C(-1) and A.B.C.G0003V00 is A.B.C(0).

In the Remote Systems view, a GDS in a GDG is represented by the absolute generation and version numbers followed by the relative generation number. This order can be changed by a preference to the relative generation number followed by the absolute generation and version numbers. They are shown in the order of the newest generation to the oldest. The succeeding relative generation number or the absolute generation and version numbers is a label decoration that can be disabled by a preference setting.