Compressing partitioned data sets

Use the Compress or Compress with Backup menu items to compress partitioned data sets.

If a partitioned data set runs out of space or if you make multiple changes to a partitioned data set or its members, you can compress it to reduce the amount of space it uses. IBM® Explorer for z/OS® supports two compression actions:
  • Compress compresses the data set.
  • Compress with Backup creates a backup copy of the data set before you compress it. If the compression action is successful, the backup copy is deleted. If the compression action fails, you can use the backup copy to restore the data set.
The Compress and Compress with Backup actions are valid for partitioned data sets only. They are not available for PDSE (Library) or sequential data sets.
  1. In the Remote Systems view, select a partitioned data set and then select Compress or Compress with Backup.
    • If you select Compress, the data set is compressed.
    • If you select Compress with Backup, the Compress with Backup window opens to prompt you for a backup data set name.
  2. Do one of the following steps:
    1. To accept the default backup data set name, click OK.
    2. To specify a different backup data set name, type a new name and click OK.
      If the compression action is successful, the backup data set is deleted. The backup data set is saved only if the compression action fails.
1 For IDz users, the MVS Files subsystem Properties view also displays the following information:
Property Group Name
The name of the property group that is associated with the subsystem.
Property Group Overrides
Whether any values in the property group were overridden: Yes or No.