>Who is to say you can't have a alias DATASET name pointing to the real name >like this:
Index: /user/my/data -> user.my.data >You've just invented symbolic links! I pointedly did not refer to the symbolic links so far, but I see that I have to. All solutions that were suggested here are too much coupled to the Unix as we know it and/or point (correctly) to the limitation of the z/OS implementation. I am trying to look at the thing from a new point of view, totally free of the old concepts! What I envision is a central system catalog that any file name created (reasonably or virtually no limitations on file names, level of hierarchies or any other such limitations [obviously more, much more than 44 characters and 5 levels]) would be transparently cataloged into (by the kernel itself.) Obviously, that catalog entry would have to record (hard coded information such as volser, mounting point or whatever have you) where is that file resides in an absolute manner. Any moving of the file would be recorded there as well (regardless of what functionality is used to moves it!). If one wants to create an alias (perhaps a shorthand name for the file, symbolic link or whatever have you) that would also be in the central system catalog (with two way pointers between the entries.) Once such a thing is implemented, all you need to do is mention the file name or alias, regardless of where in the system or file system you are. If you have authority to access the file, you have it, period. Obviously, if same file name exists in more than one place, you must provide enough partial information to disambiguate and allow the system to locate that file. Such partial information could be something like: partial path creating user creating date or range etc. For people who are not techno-geeks this is much simpler than anything available today. I admit that I myself do not remember where my files are. I use 'Agent Ransack' on Windows and since Unix is not as user friendly, I keep many user variables of the various hierarchies. I don't like this. ZA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
