If this is not a generic delete, the order in which catalogs are
searched to locate an entry to be deleted is:
- If a catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only that catalog
is searched. If the entry is not found, a no-entry-found error is
returned.
- If the entry is identified with a qualified entry name, and:
- One or more of its qualifiers is the same as the name or the alias
of a catalog,
If the entry is found, no other catalog is searched.
- If the entry is not found, the master catalog is searched. If
the entry is not found in the master catalog, a no-entry-found error
is returned.
If this is a generic delete, the order in which catalogs are searched
to locate all applicable entries to be deleted is:
- If a catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only that catalog
is searched. If an entry that matches the supplied qualifiers is not
found, a no-entry-found error is returned.
- If the entry is identified with a qualified entry
name and if one of the following situations occur, then the catalog
search continues with step 4:
- One or more of its qualifiers is the same as the name of a catalog
- One or more of its qualifiers is the same as the alias of a catalog
- The first qualifier is the same as the name of a VSAM user catalog
- The master catalog is searched.
- If an entry matching the supplied qualifiers is not found in any
of the catalogs searched, a no-entry-found error is returned.
If this is a mask delete, which is having the MASK
keyword specified in the DELETE command, the order in which catalogs
are searched to locate all applicable entries to be deleted is:
- If a catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only that given
catalog is searched. If there are no entries matching the supplied
mask filter entry in that catalog, a no-entry-found error is returned.
- If no catalog is given in the CATALOG parameter, only the master
catalog is search. No other catalogs are searched. If there are no
entries matching the supplied mask filter entry in the master catalog.
A no-entry-found error is returned.
Caution: Unwanted deletions can take place if the catalog
is not specified with the CATALOG parameter. Other catalogs are searched,
according to the order previously described, and any entries matching
the supplied qualifiers are deleted.
For information about generic catalog selection for the DELETE
command, see Generic Catalog Selection for DELETE and LISTCAT.