Troubleshooting
Problem
You receive messages DFHFC0987 OPEN of file failed with VSAM codes 0008 00A8 and IEC161I 052 indicating the file is already open for update. The open is coming from a CICS region that has the attributes of read only. You thought the shareoptions of 2,3 would allow the dataset to have one writer and any number of readers.
Symptom
You receive the following messages:
IEC161I 052(009)-084
DFHFC0987 Non-RLS OPEN of file failed: Not available for type of processing. VSAM codes - 0008, 00A8 in module DFHFCFS.
IEC161I 052(009)-084
DFHFC0987 Non-RLS OPEN of file failed: Not available for type of processing. VSAM codes - 0008, 00A8 in module DFHFCFS.
Cause
The file was empty so the empty file was defaulting to SHAREOPTIONS(1,3) or DISP=OLD when opened. These shareoptions enforce one writer OR many readers. In this case, the failure was occurring because the dataset was already open for update.
The fact that an empty file defaults to SHAREOPTIONS 1 is documented as follows in topic Cross-region share options of the z/OS 3.1 documentation:
When a shared data set is opened with DISP=OLD, or is opened for reset processing (IDCAMS REUSE command), or is empty, the data set is processed using SHAREOPTIONS 1 rules.
When a shared data set is opened with DISP=OLD, or is opened for reset processing (IDCAMS REUSE command), or is empty, the data set is processed using SHAREOPTIONS 1 rules.
Resolving The Problem
Load a record into the dataset. Afterwards, the read only region will be able to successfully open the dataset.
[{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB70","label":"Z TPS"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Product":{"code":"SSGMGV","label":"CICS Transaction Server"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m0z000000cwgsAAA","label":"Data services and Data tables-\u003EVSAM files"}],"ARM Case Number":"","Platform":[{"code":"PF035","label":"z\/OS"}],"Version":"5.4.0;5.5.0;5.6.0;6.1.0;6.2.0"}]
Product Synonym
CICS/TS CICS TS CICS Transaction Server
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Document Information
Modified date:
05 January 2026
UID
swg21179390