VSAM considerations

The z/OS Batch Command Server supports the use of VSAM keyed-sequenced (KSDS), entry-sequenced (ESDS) and relative-record (RRDS) datasets for both inputs and outputs subject to the following conditions:

• VSAM datasets must be pre-defined and, if used for input, pre-loaded using IDCAMS or some other utility.
• The z/OS Batch Command Server opens input and output VSAM files for both reading and writing.
• When used as input, all VSAM datasets are processed sequentially; as output, KSDS files are updated and ESDS and RRDS files are appended.
• The use of SHAREOPTIONS 3 or 4 is not recommended. The library IO routines supplied by Language Environment do not check SHAREOPTIONS at dataset open time and do not provide support for read and write integrity for shared VSAM files.