Initialize Tape (option 4.12)

Use Initialize Tape (option 4.12) to initialize a labeled or unlabeled tape. The tape is rewound, and the appropriate header information is written.

When you select Initialize Tape, the Initialize Tape panel shown in Figure 1 is displayed.
Figure 1. Initialize Tape panel
 Process   Options   Help
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 File Manager                   Initialize Tape

 Tapes:  No tapes allocated


 Output:
    DDNAME to use .________      enter new name, or select one from above
    Tape mode . . .__            optional recording mode or density code
    Volume serial .______        volume identifier or blank for NL tape
    Data set name ._____________________________________________
    ASCII format  . NO_          YES or NO
    Scale percent . 0_           optional scale percentage or 0 for all





 Command ===> ________________________________________________________________
  F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      F4=CRetriev  F7=Backward  F8=Forward
  F9=Swap     F10=Actions  F12=Cancel

To initialize with labels, File Manager writes a volume label set in either IBM® standard format or ANSI type 3 or 4 (ASCII) format. For NL initialization, File Manager writes a single tape mark.

Specify a DDNAME for the tape. If the DDNAME is not allocated, you are asked for allocation information. To check existing labels on the output tape before creating the new label set, specify the appropriate label value on the tape allocation panel. Specifying BLP initializes the tape unconditionally.

When Initialize Tape has finished, the tape remains positioned after the label set.

It is recommended that you unload the tape and reallocate it with the new volume serial number, to make your system aware of the new volume serial number.

You can initialize a tape with ANSI type 3 or 4 labels to be used with ASCII files. You can also specify a file identifier to be used for the file header label. Omit the volser to initialize an NL tape.

You can add a scaling capacity to the tape provided the function is supported by the hardware. The scaling capacity limits the amount of the tape actually used.

For further information, refer to the online help or INT (Initialize Tape).