Parameter type

Keyword, optional

Purpose

You can request the access method to convert data between the coded character set identifier (CCSID) specified on the JOB or EXEC statement and the CCSID specified on the DD statement. Data conversion is supported on access to ISO/ANSI Version 4 tapes using access methods BSAM or QSAM, but not using EXCP.

ISO/ANSI tapes are identified by the LABEL=(,AL) or LABEL=(,AUL) keyword. The CCSID parameter does not apply to ISO/ANSI Version 1 or ISO/ANSI/FIPS Version 3 tapes or to tapes with labels other than AL or AUL. See z/OS DFSMS Using Data Setsfor selecting ISO/ANSI Version 4 tapes. It also contains a list of supported CCSIDs.

The CCSID value of 65535 has a special meaning: it suppresses conversion.

When CCSID is not specified at the JOB, EXEC, or DD levels, data passed to BSAM and QSAM is converted to 7-bit ASCII when writing to ISO/ANSI tapes. This might result in data loss on conversion. On READ operations the CCSID (if recorded) on the tape header label is used for conversion.

The CCSID is recorded in the tape header label if conversion is not defaulted.