File Aid ======== VSAM Base Cluster creation FA;3;5 --------------------------------1.

Create a VSAM cluster With and without model dataset If model dataset is given then it will create new VSAM file with the define parameters of model dataset Without Model dataset supply the below parameters 1. 2. 3. 4. Volume= serial= (If this is not given then system will take it as default) Cyls(primary secondary) Keys(length offset -1) recsize(avgsize maxsize)

Below VSAM activities can also be done with FA;3;5 -------------------------------------------------Creation of AIX and PATH Deletion of Base cluster Build index Rename and delete of any VSAM objects finding number of records, number of inserts, number of deletes on VSAM file Below activities can be done with FA;1 -------------------------------------VSAM/sequential files can be browsed VSAM/sequential files can be browsed with layout VSAM/sequential files can be browsed with selection criteria browse dataset with different browse formats with FA;1 -----------------------------------------------------a) Character mode. Data can be browsed similar to ISPF 1 or 3.4 b) VFMT mode. Use this to browse multiple records with layout. Here more records with less colomns can be viewed In this one can view all fields or selected fields To view selected fields use command DIS col1 col2 col9 only To view all fields use command DIS ALL c) FMT mode. Use this to browse single record at a time with layout Here one record with more colomns can be viewed Note: In both VFMT and FMT the values in COMP and COMP-3 can be seen with actual data but not compressed data. In ISPF 3.4 option the data in comp and comp-3 is viewed in compressed format. It can be read with HEX ON option. Browse/Edit/Copy with selection criteria FA;1/FA;2/FA;3;3 --------------------------------------------------------Selection criteria can be applied for both browse or copy. In both these options give option T in the selection criteria. Then you can find the the below options 1, 2, 3.

1) Options To select records in VSAM files when starting key is known To select first or last few records To skip first few records 2) Formatted To select records when field name and its value is known To select records when multiple conditions needs to be applied on different fields 3) Unformatted To select records When offset, length and value is known To select records when multiple conditions needs to be applied

COPY with FA;3;3 ---------------Copy from VSAM to VSAM Copy VSAM to PS Copy PS to PS Copy PS to VSAM. In this case PS file should be sorted on the key value. Also duplicate records should be eliminated on key value. note: Copy a sequential to sequential can be done in ISPF 3.3 GDG with FA;3;2 --------------Create GDG base, Delete GDG base, Alter GDG base can be done with FA;3;2 Supply Limit, scratch/Noscratch and Empty/Noempty options View interpreting Layout FA;8 ----------------------------To find the length of a copybook To find offset, length of each field It is more useful to find the copybook length when it is bigger XREF for file with multiple records layouts ------------------------------------------This is used when file is having multiple record layouts and if the file is to be browsed with corresponding layouts. Steps to use XREF. 1. Create a XREF PDS with RECFM=VB, LRECL=300, BLKSIZE=304 in ispf 3.2 2. Create a XREF member to create definition in FA;7 3. Use XREF dataset, Member in the layout options in FA;1/2. in this case the only allowed format is FMT. Compare two VSAM file or Sequential files with FA;10 ---------------------------------------------------Here two VSAM files or Sequential files can be compared on coloumn wise or

entire record Note: Two sequential files can also be compared in ISPF 3;13 Different common situations where File Aid is used. --------------------------------------------------To To To To To To create VSAM objects in test region. copy Production VSAM/PS to test with selection criteria for unit testing create GDG base in test region browse production/test files data with selection criteria browse production/test files with layout edit Test VSAM files with test data for unit testing.

Note: Production files cannot be created in file aid because developer is not authorized to create these.