The OPTIONS option can specify a DD name for a sequential file, which includes a PDS member or concatenation of sequential files. These files must contain 80-byte records. Only columns 1 through 72 are treated as containing options. Each record is treated as a separate option string. There is no support for continuing individual options from one record to another.

The options in the options file are processed at the time the OPTIONS option is encountered, so think of it as inserted at the point in the options string where the OPTIONS option is found.

DD name IEWPARMS is recognized as an option file with the same characteristics except that no OPTIONS option is needed for IEWPARMS. IEWPARMS is processed at the end of the primary option string.