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From: FEATS@VTVM1.BITNET (Steve Greenfield)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.asm370
Subject: VSAM repro of empty datasets
Message-ID: <8912151937.AA14726@brazos.rice.edu>
Date: 15 Dec 89 18:13:26 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: IBM 370 Assembly Programming Discussion List <ASM370%UCF1VM.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
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I have 12 VSAM datasets, both ESDS and KSDS on an MVS/XA system.  In
building a jobstream to repro the datasets to tape I've encountered
the same old problem:  You cannot repro an empty VSAM dataset.  I do
not want to seed the empty datasets with a dummy record because on
subsequent restore I don't know how the application using these datasets
will be affected.  I need to keep the one for one relationship between
the tape files and disk files.  If the fifth file was empty then my final
tape would only have 11 files and any restore process would be alot more
difficult.

Can anyone help me with my problem?  How do other shops approach this
particular problem, or am I missing something really simple?  Suggestions
or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Steve Greenfield
Virginia Tech Computing Center
Blacksburg, Virginia