Working With VSAM Data sets

FTPing SAM Data Sets using Shell Views:

We basically convert the shell view into a specific view, then perform the FTP as per following:

1) Move into the view subdirectory (i.e., issue CD /SAMSHELL), then
2) Point the shell view, SAMSEHLL, to a real data set, then
3) Fix all missing, or incorrect, data set attributes, then
4) Perform your FTP.

Procedure Details:

1) Move into the subdirectory (in our case, SAMSHELL):

    Line-mode clients: issue CD /SAMSHELL
    Graphical clients: click on the view subdirectory, SAMSEHLL, icon.



    Graphical clients automatically issue a DIR as soon as you click on a subdirectory icon. If you are using
    a line-mode client, and care to issue a DIR, then here is what you get back from the server:

    Oops! Nothing (i.e., null listing). Well, this actually makes sense because our view, VSHELL, does
    not point to a real VSAM data set, yet. So, without any further ado, let's fix this problem (i.e., let's
    point to a real SAM data set).

2) Point the view to a real SAM data set:

    In order to do this, you, the user, must know the real data set name!

    Line-mode clients: issue CD real_sam_data_set_name
   Graphical clients: modify the path to point to the real_sam_data_set

    Graphical clients, again, automatically issue a DIR as soon as you modify the path. If you are using
    a line-mode client, and care to issue a DIR, then here is what you get back from the server:



    Our subdirectory is no longer empty!! It contains exactly one data file entry! What does it mean and
     where does it come from?

    Well, this data file entry logically represents the real data set the view, SAMSHELL, now points to.
    Please note that the server neither uses, nor cares about, this logical data file entry. Therefore, the
    user may also safely ignore it on his GETs and PUTs as well.

    The Admin can control the name you see by coding CTL_FTPC_NAME in the view. If this statement
    is not coded, the server, as a default, uses the view's name. For more information about
    CTL_FTPC_NAME statement, please see ssssssss

3) Fix all missing, or incorrect, data set attributes:

     We must fix all required data set attributes. The required attributes depend on storage media (tape
     or Disk), Storage manager (Tape Managmemnt System, Disk manager, VSAM) and soforth.

     As an example, let's assume that we have pointed to a managed-SAM file (i.e., our space manager is
     VSAM itself). In this case, the required attributes become those attributes required to process
     managed-SAM data sets.






4) Perform your FTP:

    Steps two and three logically, and temporarily, transform the shell view
     into a specific view. We are now ready to upload and download data
     Please see

     Please                            for examples and snaphsots..

Introduction:

This page explains how to FTP sequential data sets using Shell views. The idea is to logically transform, or convert, the shell view into a specific-like view, then perform the FTP. We transform the view by a) logically pointing it to the required data set then b) provide required attributes. Once done, the view becomes very much like a specific SAM view.

Please note that SAM shell views are most usefull when used along with some sort of a "storage space manager" such as DYNAM (for standalone sequential data sets), or VSAM (for managed-SAM files).