Activating enhanced generic naming for the DATASET class (EGN option)

If you have the SPECIAL attribute, you can activate enhanced generic naming for the DATASET class by issuing the SETROPTS command with the EGN operand:

SETROPTS EGN

When you activate this option, RACF® allows you to specify the generic character ** (in addition to the generic characters * and %) when you define any of the following:

A generic profile in the DATASET class
An entry in the global access checking table for the DATASET class

Note that enhanced generic naming changes the meaning of the generic character * for generic data set profiles. (SETROPTS EGN has no effect on general resource profiles.) In addition, a generic profile such as hlq.* defined while SETROPTS NOEGN is in effect, will appear as hlq.*.** when listed after EGN is activated.

For information on specifying profile names with enhanced generic naming, see z/OS Security Server RACF Command Language Reference.

To deactivate enhanced generic naming for the DATASET class, issue the SETROPTS command with the NOEGN operand.

Guideline: Do not deactivate enhanced generic naming after data set profiles have been created while enhanced generic naming was active.

NOEGN is in effect when a RACF database is first initialized using IRRMIN00.