Receiving Data Sets with the RECEIVE Command

When you issue the RECEIVE command and a data set was sent to you, unless the data set was sent as a message, you see something like the following:

Dataset A.DATASET.NAME from USER1 on NODEID
Enter restore parameters or 'DELETE' or 'END' +

You then have the following options:

Receive the data set by pressing the Enter key. If the receive is successful, the new data set name is the same as the one transmitted except your prefix replaces the first qualifier.
Rename the data set by entering under the message:
```
DATASET(new.name)
```
Delete the data set by entering:
```
DELETE
```
Postpone receiving the data set by entering:
```
END
```

The RECEIVE command cannot, in general, reformat data sets. Be sure that you tell the system to write the transmitted data into a data set that has the same record format as the original data set. Be sure that the record length is compatible (equal for fixed-length records and equal or longer for variable-length records). Also, be sure to specify a block size that is compatible with both the record length and record format of the transmitted data. If the system detects a mismatch in block size, record length, or record format, the system terminates the RECEIVE command and issues the appropriate error messages.

Note: The RECEIVE command may work differently if your installation uses security labels and security checking. See Security Considerations for Sending and Receiving Data Sets for more information.

Example

To receive data set EXAMPLES.TEXT transmitted to your user ID from USER8, enter:

RECEIVE

You then see:

Dataset A.EXAMPLES.TEXT from USER8 on NODEID
Enter restore parameters or 'DELETE' or 'END' +

To receive the data into a data set named PREFIX.EXAMPLES.TEXT, press the Enter key.

You then see:

Restore successful to dataset 'PREFIX.EXAMPLES.TEXT'
-----------------------------------------------------
No more files remain for the receive command to process.

If you receive a data set with the same name as one you already have, you see the message:

Dataset 'PREFIX.EXAMPLES.TEXT' already exists.  Reply 'R' to replace it.

If you want to replace it, enter R. If you don't want to replace it, press the Enter key to terminate the RECEIVE command. Then reissue the RECEIVE command and rename the data set.

To receive a data set accompanied by a message, enter RECEIVE with no operands, as in the preceding example.

When you receive a data set, the system prompts you for information to control how the data set is restored. You can accept the system defaults offered with the prompts, or supply additional operands with the RECEIVE command, as described in the z/OS TSO/E Command Reference.