When a data set is used by two or more job steps in the same job, you can pass the data set from job step to job step. In this way, you can conveniently refer to the data set in the DD statements for each of the later steps, which are called receiving steps. Device type, volume serial numbers, data set sequence number, and label type need not be coded in the DD statements for the receiving steps, because this information is obtained from the passing step. However, the data set attributes (density, record format, and so forth) are not automatically passed to the DD statements in the receiving steps. If the data set has standard labels, the receiving steps can obtain the attributes from the labels. If the data set does not have standard labels and the processing program does not define the data set attributes, then the DD statements in the receiving steps should restate the attributes.

If you use a volume reference, all volumes must be in the same library or the request fails.