Access Method Services (IDCAMS) commands

Access method services, also known as IDCAMS, creates and maintains VSAM data sets.

With access method services, you can perform the following tasks:

Define VSAM data sets.
Define and build alternate indexes.
Back up and restore VSAM data sets.
Copy data sets.
Print the contents of data sets.
Delete data sets.
Collect information about data sets.
Examine the structural consistency of VSAM key-sequenced data sets.
Control DASD cache.
List tape volume (VOLCAT) catalog entries.
Diagnose catalog errors.
Recover from catalog errors.
Define system-managed libraries and volumes.
Define extended addressability for an extended-format VSAM data set to support a data set size greater than 4 GB.
Encrypt and decrypt data sets.

You also can define VSAM data sets using JCL or dynamic allocation macros.