GTF trace data can be combined with other data or extracted from dumps and data sets using two IPCS subcommands: COPYTRC and MERGE.
Use consolidated or merged trace output to show the chronology of events around the time of an error. Specify start and stop times for the merge to see events beginning a little before the error occurred and ending a little after. On the CTRACE and GTFTRACE subcommands, specify the jobs and address space identifiers (ASID) involved, so that the merged output contains only pertinent trace records.
Merging is most useful when several components are running traces; the system can also be running a GTF trace. Each component puts its trace records into its own buffers independently. GTF is independent from all of the component traces. You can merge these separate records into one chronological sequence to make diagnosis easier.
See z/OS MVS IPCS Commands for more information about COPYTRC and MERGE.