SEPARATIONGROUP|SEP (PCU |{VOLUME|VOL})
TYPE ({REQUIRED|REQ|R} | {PREFERRED|PREF|P})
DSNLIST|DSNS|DSN (data-set-name,data-set-name[,data-set-name,...]
)

SEPARATIONGROUP(PCU)

Indicates that separation is on the PCU level.

SEPARATIONGROUP(VOLUME)

Indicates that separation is on the volume level. VOLUME may be abbreviated as VOL.

TYPE(REQUIRED)

Indicates that separation is required. SMS fails the allocation if the specified data set or data sets cannot be separated from other data sets on the specified level (PCU or volume). REQUIRED may be abbreviated as REQ or R.

TYPE(PREFERRED)

Indicates that separation is preferred. SMS allows the allocation if the specified data set or data sets cannot be separated from other data sets on the specified level. SMS allocates the data sets and issues an allocation message that indicates that separation was not honored for a successful allocation. PREFERRED may be abbreviated as PREF or P.

DSNLIST(data-set-name,data-set-name[,data-set-name,...])

Specifies the names of the data sets that are to be separated. You must specify at least 2 names. The data set names must follow the naming convention described in z/OS MVS JCL Reference. You can specify the same data set name in multiple data set separation groups. Wildcard characters are supported, beginning with the third qualifier. For example, you could specify BJONES.TEST.* but not BJONES.*. The wildcard characters are as follows:

*

Indicates that either a qualifier or one or more characters within a qualifier can occupy that position. An asterisk can precede or follow a set of characters.

**

Indicates that zero or more qualifiers can occupy that position. When ** is the last qualifier, one or more qualifiers can occupy that position. A double asterisk cannot precede or follow any characters; it must be preceded or followed by either a period or a blank.

%

Indicates that exactly one alphanumeric or national character can occupy that position. You can specify up to eight % characters in each qualifier.

If only one data set name is specified with DSNLIST, the data set name must contain at least one wildcard character.