Syntax for ALLOCATE Parameters

In Table 1, the access method services ALLOCATE parameters appear in the column "Acceptable Parameters". Parameters that might cause unpredictable results if used within access method services appear in the column "Parameters to Use with Caution".

Table 1. Allocate Command Parameters
Command	Acceptable Parameters	Parameters to Use with Caution
ALLOCATE	{DATASET(dsname)[FILE(ddname)]}	{*\|dsname-list}\|DUMMY
	[ACCODE(access code)]¹
	[ALTFILE(name)]
	[AVGREC(U\|K\|M)]
	[BFALN(F\|D)]²
	[BFTEK(S\|E\|A\|R)]²
	[BLKSIZE(value)]²
	[BUFL(buffer-length)]²
	[BUFNO(number-of-buffers)]
	[BUFOFF({block-prefix-length\|L)]}²
		[BURST\|NOBURST]
		[CHARS[tablename-list]]
		[COPIES((number),[group-value-list])]
	[DATACLAS(data-class-name)]
	[DEN(0\|1\|2\|3\|4)]¹
		[DEST(destination\|destination.userid)]
	[DIAGNS(TRACE)]²
	[DIR(integer)]
	[DSNTYPE(LIBRARY\|PDS\|HFS\|PIPE\|LARGE\|BASIC\|EXTREQ\|EXTPREF)]
	[DSORG(DA\|DAU\|PO\|POU\|PS\|PSU)]²
	[EATTR(NO \| OPT)]
	[EROPT(ACC\|SKP\|ABE)]
	[EXPDT(year-day)\|RETPD(no.-of-days)]
		[FCB(image-id,ALIGN,VERIFY)]
		[FLASH(overlay-name,[copies])]
		[FORMS(forms-name)]
		[HOLD\|NOHOLD]
		[INPUT\|OUTPUT]
	[KEEP\|CATALOG]	[DELETE\|UNCATALOG]
	[KEYLEN(bytes)]
	[KEYOFF(offset)]
	[LABEL(type)]¹
	[LIKE(model-dsname)]	\|[USING(attr-list-name)]
	[LIMCT(search-number)]
	[LRECL({logical-record-length\|
	(nnnnnK\|X)})]
	[MGMTCLAS(management-class-name)]
	[MAXVOL(count)]
		[MODIFY(module-name,[trc])]
	[NEW]	[OLD\|SHR\|MOD]
	[NCP(no.-of-channel-programs)]²
		[OUTDES(output-descriptor-name,...)]
	[POSITION(sequence-no.)]¹
	[PRIVATE]
	[PROTECT]
	[RECFM(A,B,D,F,M,S,T,U,V)]²
	[RECORG(ES\|KS\|LS\|RR)]
	[REFDD(file-name)]
	[RELEASE]²
	[REUSE]
	[ROUND]²
	[SECMODEL(profile-name[,GENERIC])]
	[SPACE(quantity[,increment])
	{BLOCK(value)\|AVBLOCK(value)\|
	CYLINDERS\|TRACKS}]
	[STORCLAS(storage-class-name)]
		[SYSOUT(class)]
	[TRTCH(C\|E\|ET\|T)]¹
	[UCOUNT(count)\|PARALLEL]
		[UCS(universal-character-set-name)]
	[UNIT(type)]
	[VOLUME(serial-list)]
	[VSEQ(vol-seq-no.)]
		[WRITER(external-writer-name)]

¹: Parameters applicable to tape data sets only.
²: Parameters applicable to non-VSAM data sets only.

Abbreviation for ALLOCATE command: ALLOC

Descriptions of the parameters within access method services follow. For information about ALLOCATE parameters not described in this section, see z/OS TSO/E Command Reference.