Data sets and records

File Manager provides production and development logical file manipulation for z/FS files, sequential (PS and PDS(E)) and VSAM (including IAM) data sets.

You can view and edit or otherwise process these types of data:

  • Sequential (PS) and partitioned (PDS or PDSE) data sets: A member of a partitioned data set or a sequential data set, or like or unlike concatenations thereof (when used as input), with any of these data set attributes:
    • PS data set type
      • Basic
      • Library
      • Extended
      • Large
      • Compressed
    • Record format
      • Fixed, variable, or undefined
      • Blocked or unblocked
      • Spanned
      • ISPF packed format data
    • Record length
      • For fixed-length data: 1–32760, 10-65535 (for tape using LBI)
      • For variable-length data: 1–32752, 14-65531 (for tape using LBI)
      • For spanned variable-length data: 1–16MB
  • VSAM data sets:
    • ESDS, including spanned format
    • KSDS, including spanned format
    • RRDS (fixed-length or variable-length)
    • PATH (PATHs related to a non-unique alternate index are restricted to browse only)
    • AIX
  • z/FS files: A file contained in the z/OS® UNIX™ File System, including z/FS:
    • Record format
      • Text (delimited by CR,LF or NL)
      • Binary
    • Record length
      • Text mode files are variable length: 1-32752
      • Binary mode files are fixed length: 1-32760
  • WebSphere MQ messages on a queue. Where allowed, an MQ queue can be specified in a data set name.
  • CICS® files, TS, or TD queues:
    • When used in conjunction with FM/CICS. See File Manager for z/OS User’s Guide and Reference for CICS.
    • In a non-CICS File Manager environment, by specifying the CICS® resource type, CICS® applid, and CICS® resource name as the data set name.
Note:
Throughout this publication, where the term data set is used, it generally refers to any of the above resource types, rather than referring specifically to traditional z/OS® data sets, unless otherwise mentioned.

File Manager can use copybooks that are stored in a PDS, a PDSE, a CA-Panvalet library, or a library accessed using the Library Management System Exit.