GENERATION(gennum) | DATE(date) | VERSION(vernum) are mutually exclusive, optional parameters used to identify the backup version of the data set or data sets that you want to recover.

GENERATION specifies that you want to recover a particular backup version of a specific data set. For gennum, substitute the relative generation number of the backup version of the data set that you want to recover. Zero is the latest created backup version, one is the next to the latest created version, and so forth, up to the maximum number of versions existing for the data set. You cannot specify GENERATION with retained backup copies.

TIME is an optional parameter that specifies the exact time in hours, minutes, and seconds (hhmmss) when the backup version was created. The valid range for hours is 00–23, and for minutes and seconds is 00–59. If you specify TIME, you must also specify DATE, otherwise the HRECOVER command fails. If you specify a partially qualified data set, the DATE and TIME are applied to all of the data sets that meet the filter criteria. If you specify DATE and TIME, DFSMShsm recovers the exact backup copy that was created at the specified date and time. If you specify DATE and do not specify TIME, DFSMShsm recovers the most recent backup copy created on or before the specified date. You can use the LIST command to determine the creation DATE and TIME of the data sets that you want to recover. If a copy with specified DATE and TIME does not exist, the HRECOVER command fails. You cannot specify TIME on a volume recovery request.

VERSION(vernum) specifies that you want to recover a particular unique version of a specific data set. For vernum, substitute a decimal number from 1 to 999 for the particular backup version you would like to recover. If DFSMShsm is unable to find the specified backup version, the recover fails and message ARC1128I is issued. You cannot specify VERSION with retained backup copies.