Some Basics of Generating Lists: Listing Data Sets and Volumes

As mentioned, the goal of list generation is to provide a list of data sets, volumes, or SMS classes and their attributes. Through these lists, you may directly manage your data for space, availability, and performance.

To generate a list, you must describe to ISMF which data sets or volumes to include. You can generate a list of your data sets using the defaults, or a list containing only a few narrowly selected entries by entering more specific information about the entries on the appropriate selection entry panel. The more entries you select, the longer it will take to generate the list.

Rule: If you limit more than one field on a selection entry panel, the list contains only the data sets meeting all of the selection criteria. If ISMF cannot determine whether a data set meets your selection criteria, the data set will be included in the list. Values of dash (-), question mark (?), less-than (<), and greater-than (>) always meet any selection criteria.

The Data Set and DASD Volume Applications have more than one page for entering selections. Page 1 is mandatory. The other pages of these applications are optional. They include only fields that you may use as criteria to limit the types of data sets or volumes you wish to appear in the final list. All of these optional selection criteria correspond to the informational data attributes provided in the generated lists. Use the following scrolling commands to move back and forth through the pages of selection entry panels:

Command: Description
DOWN: Takes you to the next page of the selection entry panel.
UP: Takes you to the previous page of the selection entry panel.

Scroll back and forth through the pages of a selection entry panel until you have finished filling in all the fields you need. Press the ENTER key to create the list.