The PURG call

Use the purge (PURG) call with an express alternate PCB to release a print data set to the IMS Spool API for immediate printing. When the PURG call is issued, the print data set is closed and deallocated. If the PURG call is issued against an alternate PCB that is not marked as EXPRESS=YES, no action is taken for the print data set.

You can issue the PURG call either with or without an I/O area:

• When the PURG call is issued with an I/O area, it is treated as though it were two calls. The first function handles the PURG request, and the second function inserts the data provided by the I/O area.
• When the PURG call is issued against an alternate PCB that is not marked as EXPRESS=YES, the purge function is ignored. If an I/O area is included, the data is placed in the print data set.

The PURG call differs slightly with IMS Spool API when it is used with alternate PCBs that are generated as EXPRESS=YES:

• The current print data set is closed, deallocated, and sent to JES for printing.
• Status code of A3 is returned to the application program, indicating that the alternate PCB no longer contains a valid destination.

For information on the results of the PURG call, see the following table.