DFSMSrmm uses the retention information in a vital record specification subchain to calculate the retention date. The data set retention date is the date when a data set is no longer retained by the current vital record specification subchain. If only a single vital record specification retains a data set, the retention date is the date when the date set is no longer retained by a vital record specification and is eligible for expiration processing. DFSMSrmm calculates a retention date for each data set on a volume. DFSMSrmm then uses the highest retention date of all the data sets on a volume retained by a vital record specification to calculate the volume retention date. Use the RMM LISTDATASET or the RMM LISTVOLUME commands or DFSMSrmm ISPF dialog to display retention dates. See Defining vital record specifications for information about how vital record specifications are defined and how policies are applied to data sets and volumes.

When vital record specifications are linked using AND, DFSMSrmm calculates the retention date based on the first vital record specification in the chain linked using AND. This means that the order you link the vital record specifications determines which retention date format DFSMSrmm calculates.

You control the way DFSMSrmm processes the retention information by specifying the UNTILEXPIRED operand on the primary vital record specification. Use the UNTILEXPIRED operand in a primary vital record specification to combine retention policies so that DFSMSrmm uses the earliest possible date to calculate the retention date.

If only one vital record specification matches the data set, DFSMSrmm uses that vital record specification to retain the data set. If both a primary and secondary vital record specification match the data set name, and UNTILEXPIRED is not specified, DFSMSrmm uses the vital record specification where the data set's point in time status matches the retention information in the vital record specification. This means that only one vital record specification retains a data set at a time, even if both vital record specifications match the data set. So, if the primary vital record specification matches, DFSMSrmm retains the data set by using the primary vital record specification.

When both primary and secondary vital record specifications match the data set name, and you have specified UNTILEXPIRED in a primary vital record specification, you are asking DFSMSrmm to combine the retention information in both vital record specifications. DFSMSrmm uses both vital record specifications to determine how to retain the data set. DFSMSrmm calculates the retention date based on the vital record specification that has the earliest date to stop retaining the data set.