It is possible to create a direct data set using QSAM (no keys allowed) or BSAM (with or without keys and the DCB specifies MACRF=W). However, it is not recommended that you access a direct data set using QSAM because you cannot request a function that requires the information in the capacity record (R0) data field. For example, the following restrictions would apply:

• Variable-length or undefined-length spanned record processing is not permitted.
• The WRITE add function with extended search for fixed-length records (with or without track overflow) is not permitted.