I think the problem that you are encountering is an operating system restriction. If you OPEN a file with a VSAM ACB, when the end of data condition is encountered VSAM code is not prepared to close the VSAM data set, clean up the VSAM control blocks, convert the ACB to a DCB (not sure how this would be done) and reopen the file using the converted DCB. The reverse is also true for physical sequential to VSAM concatenation. About the only way this would be possible is for the program to break down the concatenation using dynamic allocation, rebuild multiple files without the sequential to VSAM conversions, and then programmatically work through the newly dynamically allocated files. This would be an extremely messy situation.
We understand that this situation can lead to confusion. If a programmer codes a concatenated file and the step ends with a RC=0, most people would assume that all of the data had been read. To avoid this confusion SyncSort will post an error message and end with a RC=16. Sincerely, John Reda Software Services Manager Syncsort Inc. 201-930-8260 > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Gilbert Saint-Flour > Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 11:53 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Dorting multiple VSAM and PS files > > On Wednesday 31 January 2007 11:17, Carl Edwards wrote: > > > I have recently migrated a small VSE system to Z/os. > > evrything went well with one exception. > > The VSE Sort program was able to sort a variety of files, mixed SAM > > and VSAM in one pass. This is not supported in Z/OS (DFSORT). > > I can write an E15 exit to handle this, but I am somewhat amazed > > that this cabability does not exist in Z/os. > > Has anyone else encounterd this issue? > > I certainly have, way too many times! Just last year, I had a customer > which > had that particular problem in over 700 SORT steps. Note that this isn't > just a DFSORT problem: it also exists with SYNCSORT and CA-SORT. > > Over the years, I have used three approaches to solve this problem: > > 1. a generic E15/E35 exit called VSAMSORT which I first wrote in 1985 > > 2. An ICETOOL step with COPY/COPY/SORT (an obviously more recent solution) > > 3. a request to the DFSORT developers to add support for multiple VSAM > input > files - that never worked :-( > > -- > Gilbert Saint-Flour > GSF Software > http://gsf-soft.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
