The BUILDRCD macro, like the BUILD macro, causes a buffer pool to be constructed in an area of virtual storage you provide. Also, BUILDRCD makes it possible for you to access variable-length, spanned records as complete logical records, rather than as segments.

You must be processing with QSAM in the locate mode and you must be processing either VS/VBS or DS/DBS records, if you want to access the variable-length, spanned records as logical records. If you issue the BUILDRCD macro before the data set is opened, or during your DCB exit routine, you automatically get logical records rather than segments of spanned records.

Only one logical record storage area is built, no matter how many buffers are specified; therefore, you cannot share the buffer pool with other data sets that might be open at the same time.

You can issue the BUILDRCD macro in 31-bit mode, but the buffer area cannot reside above the line and be associated with a DCB.