Data set name masks

DFSMSrmm does not check quoted data set name masks for valid characters. Any string of up to 44 characters is accepted, except those that start with a blank or x'00'. In addition, for quoted data set name masks, DFSMSrmm calls DFSMSdfp common filter services (CFS) to ensure that these basic mask rules are met:

Period (.)

A leading or trailing period is not allowed. Consecutive periods are also not allowed.

Double asterisk (**)

Cannot be specified within a data set name qualifier.

Data set name masks without quotes must pass these data set naming rules:

• A data set name can have one or more qualifiers.
• Each qualifier is one to eight characters. The first character alphabetic (A to Z) or national (# @ $). The remaining seven characters can be either alphabetic, numeric (0 - 9), national, or a hyphen (-).
• Qualifiers are separated by a period.
• DFSMSrmm adds your TSO PROFILE PREFIX value as the high-level qualifier.
• The data set name must not include a member name.

To create a data set name mask, use *, %, or ¬ as placeholders.

* (asterisk)

A single * represents a single qualifier of any number of characters.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.BACKUP.*')

A single * when used within a qualifier represents zero or more characters.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.BACK*.DATA')

More than one single * can be used within a qualifier as long as a character precedes or follows the *.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.*A*B.DATA')

.** represents zero or more qualifiers. At the end of the mask, it indicates that any remaining characters are to be ignored.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.**')
RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.**.DATA')

** indicates to select all data sets.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('**')

You can use this mask in a vital record specification to define installation default retention criteria for data sets that are not covered by other vital record specifications.

% (percent sign)

A place holder for a single character. You can use one or more % signs to create a data set name mask.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.BACKUP.DAT%')

¬ (not sign)

A place holder for a single character in a data set name mask for a pseudo-GDG data set name. A pseudo-GDG is a collection of data sets, using the same data set name pattern. The ¬ indicates that DFSMSrmm should manage data sets by matching the data set name mask like a generation data group.

This example defines a policy to retain the five most current versions of data sets that match a data set name mask.

RMM ADDVRS DSNAME('PRITCHAR.BACK¬¬.DA¬¬') CYCLES
COUNT(5)

Use % rather than ¬ as a place holder, when you do not want to manage all the data sets that match the data set name mask as a pseudo-GDG. See Pseudo-GDG data set names for more information about identifying pseudo-GDGs for retention and movement.

When an existing record in the DFSMSrmm control data set is being processed, these items are checked:

• The name is 1 to 44 characters and enclosed in quotes if any special characters are included.
• If the data set name is not enclosed in quotes, PROFILE PREFIX is applied. There is no check against data set naming or data set mask naming rules.