IMPORT

The IMPORT command moves or restores a cluster or alternate index, or restores a catalog. The syntax of the IMPORT command is:

Command	Parameters
IMPORT	{INFILE(ddname)\|INDATASET(entryname)}
	{OUTFILE(ddname)\| OUTDATASET(entryname)}
	[ALIAS\|NOALIAS]
	[ERASE\|NOERASE]
	[INTOEMPTY]
	[LOCK\|UNLOCK]
	[OBJECTS
	((entryname
	[FILE(ddname)]
	[MANAGEMENTCLASS(class)]
	[NEWNAME(newname)]
	[STORAGECLASS(class)]
	[VOLUMES(volser[ volser...])])
	[(entryname...)...])]
	[PURGE\|NOPURGE]
	[SAVRAC\|NOSAVRAC]
	[CATALOG(catname)]
	[RLSTARGET(NO\|YES\|QUISCE)]

Restrictions:

The original version of the catalog is always deleted when you use IMPORT.
You can export a KSDS with extended addressability to a system that does not support extended addressability if the data set is smaller than 4GB. If it is larger, the EXPORT and IMPORT commands appear to complete successfully, but when the data set tries to extend beyond 4GB, a message is issued. You can use REPRO—specifically FROMKEY and TOKEY, or COUNT parameters—to reduce the size of the data set to less than 4GB before using IMPORT.
VSAM record-level sharing (RLS) information is lost when the IMPORT is done on a DFSMS/MVS 1.2 or lower system. For the correct procedure to use when copying or moving data sets with pending recovery, see “Using VSAM Record-Level Sharing” in z/OS DFSMS Using Data Sets .
Access Method Services does not use RLS. If an RLS keyword is specified on the DD statement of a file to be opened by AMS, the keyword will be ignored and the file will be opened and accessed in non-RLS mode.
The CATALOG parameter will not be honored when you use IMPORT to restore a catalog. You can only import a catalog under the master catalog.