When sharing a master catalog, it might be desirable for an alias to reference a different data set or catalog, depending on the system it is accessed from. You can now define an alias for a catalog or a non-VSAM data set where the catalog name or non-VSAM data set name contains system symbols. This name is resolved at the time the alias entry is referenced, rather than when it is defined.

Aliases of data sets may not be used prior to the start of Master Scheduler Initialization. This is approximately the time that the system switches to full screen console mode. Thus, cataloged data set names contained in system initialization members that are read and processed prior to this time may NOT be specified as aliases. The actual data set names must be provided.

This capability simplifies staged introduction of products on members of a sysplex. Now a single entry in the shared master catalog can refer to different physical data sets on each member of the sysplex at the same time.

For more information, see the DEFINE ALIAS description of the SYMBOLICRELATE keyword in z/OS DFSMS Access Method Services Commands.