VERSIONS: Specifying the backup versions to delete

Explanation: VERSIONS(bvn) specifies which of the active backup versions of a data set to delete. You can specify multiple version numbers. For bvn, substitute the one-to-three-digit decimal number of a particular backup version to be deleted. You can get the backup version number by issuing a LIST command and specifying the data set name and the BACKUPCONTROLDATASET parameter.

A list of backup version numbers applies to the backup versions of any data sets you specify. For example, assume you specify the following command:

   BDELETE (VLS6492.PQR.CLIST, VLS6493.STU.CLIST)  +
           VERSIONS(115,118,120)

DFSMShsm deletes backup version numbers 115, 118, and 120 for data sets VLS6492.PQR.CLIST and VLS6493.STU.CLIST.

This command fails if VERSIONS(0) is specified. Instead, DATE and TIME must be used to uniquely identity a retained backup copy or a backup copy created with the NEWNAME keyword.

Note:

If you want to delete a retired version, you must specify VERSIONS or DATE and TIME. A retired version is the backup version DFSMShsm creates before it scratches a data set during data set retirement. DFSMShsm does not automatically delete retired versions.
You cannot use VERSIONS to delete an individual retained backup version.

Defaults: None.