ISPF Create PS

In the IBM mainframe environment, PS (Physical Sequential) refers to a dataset where data is stored sequentially, one record after another. Creating a PS dataset is a common task performed using ISPF's Dataset Utility Panel.

Navigation - Option 3.2 (Data Set Utility) from ISPF Primary Option Menu (ISPF Home Menu).

Steps to Create a PS Dataset -

Step-1: From the Data Set Utility panel, Enter the new PS DataSet name in quotes(') in the Name field and A at the command line. Press Enter.

Step-2: Allocate New Data Set screen appear like below. Fill the required details -

Parameters -

Management Class: Optional. It represents a collection of management attributes defined by the storage administrator. Controls dataset retention and migration.

Storage Class: Optional. It defines how and where a dataset is stored on the mainframe. It is managed by the Storage Management Subsystem (SMS) and determines the physical storage medium and performance requirements for a dataset.

Volume Serial: Optional. It specifies the storage volume if required (optional for SMS-managed datasets).

Data Class: Optional. It simplifies the allocation process by automatically specifying characteristics like space allocation, record format, block size, and record length, eliminating the need to define them manually.

Space units: Mandatory. It specifies the type of space unit used for allocation. The available options are - BLKS, TRKS, CYLS, KB, MB, BYTES or RECORDS.

Average record unit: Optional. It specifies the unit used to measure the average record size. The available options are - M, K or U.

Primary quantity: Mandatory. It specifies the initial space allocated for the dataset.

Secondary quantity: Mandatory. It specifies the additional space allocated when the primary allocation is exhausted.

Directory blocks: Mandatory and should be 0 for PS. It determines the number of members a Partitioned Dataset (PDS) can accommodate.

Record format: Mandatory. It specifies the format of records in a dataset (used for both PDS and PS). The available options are - F (Fixed), FB (Fixed-block), V (Variable), VB (Variable-block), and U (Unformatted) and many mor combinations.

Record length: Mandatory. Specifies the record-length in the file.

Block size: Mandatory. Specifies the block size. It always defines as multiples of record length.

Data set name type: Optional. Specifies the type of the dataset. The available options are - LIBRARY, HFS, PDS, LARGE, BASIC, EXTREQ, EXTPREF or blank).

Expiration date: Optional. It specifies the number of days a dataset can remain in the migrated stage (on TAPE) before being deleted.

Allocate Multiple Volumes: Optional. It will be used when the file is big and can't fit on single volumne. use '/' to select the option.

Step-3: After all details are filled, hit Enter. If the allocation is successful, "Data set allocated" message shown on the right-top corner of "Data Set Utility" Screen.

Step-4: The new PS dataset is successfully created now. To verify the PS dataset, hit Enter on the same screen (option blank). It displays the complete dataset information.

Note! From the above screen, hit PF3 button multiple times until you go back to "ISPF Primary Option Menu".