Data set name copied from earlier dd statement

A backward reference is a reference to an earlier statement in the job or in a cataloged or in-stream procedure called by this or an earlier job step. A backward reference can be coded in the DSNAME parameter to copy a data set name from an earlier DD statement.

When copying the data set name, the system also copies the following from the DD statement:

Whether or not the data set is a PDS or a PDSE.
Whether or not the data set is a temporary data set.

*.ddname: Asks the system to copy the data set name from earlier DD statement ddname.
*.stepname.ddname: Asks the system to copy the data set name from DD statement, ddname, in an earlier step, stepname, in the same job.
*.stepname.procstepname.ddname: Asks the system to copy the data set name from a DD statement in a cataloged or in-stream procedure. Stepname is the name of this job step or an earlier job step that calls the procedure, procstepname is the name of the procedure step that contains the DD statement, and ddname is the name of the DD statement.