Required Parameters

DATASET(dsname)

Gives the name of the data set to be allocated. The data set name must be fully qualified. If this parameter is omitted, the system creates a temporary data set name for the actual data set.

If the data set name is not in quotation marks and a USER parameter is given in the JCL, the value in the USER parameter is prefixed to all data set names given by ALLOCATE.
If the USER parameter is not in the JCL, no prefix is added to any data set name given by ALLOCATE
The ALLOCATE command can be used to create temporary data sets, but only by omitting the DATASET parameter. Temporary data sets cannot be created by using the DATASET parameter.
Non-VSAM temporary data sets are the only uncataloged data sets that you can create.

For more information about temporary data sets, see z/OS MVS JCL Reference. For more information about VSAM temporary data sets, see z/OS DFSMS Using Data Sets.

Exception: A temporary data set that is created by the ALLOCATE command is deleted at the completion of the current step. It cannot be referred to by subsequent steps in a job.
You cannot concurrently allocate data sets that reside on the same physical tape volume.
To allocate a member of a generation data group, provide the fully qualified data set name, including the generation number.

Abbreviation: DA, DSN, DSNAME

FILE(ddname)

This is the name of the data set, and can have up to eight characters. If you omit this parameter, the system assigns an available system file name (ddname). Do not use special ddnames unless you want to use the facilities those names represent to the system. See JCL DD Statement for a Snap Dump for more information about AMSDUMP. See z/OS MVS JCL Reference for more information about the following special ddnames:

AMSDUMP         SYSABEND
JOBLIB          SYSCKEOV
STEPLIB         SYSUDUMP

See z/OS TSO/E Command Reference for more information on these special ddnames:

SYSTSIN         SYSTSPRT

You cannot use SYSTSIN and SYSTSPRT in a job step that runs the ALLOCATE command. See Restrictions for further information.