GDG limit above 255?

[AD991]

Hi,

If we give GDG limit above 255 so what will happen ? Anyone answer plz ?

[Robert Sample]

Your question is not at all clear. What do you mean by "If we give GDG limit above 255" -- are you talking about the IDCAMS definition? JCL usage? Something else entirely?

Assuming you're talking about GDG definition in IDCAMS, there are two possibilities. If the EXTENDED parameter is specified, the GDG can have up to 999 generation data sets. If the NOEXTENDED parameter is specified (and it is the default), you are limited to 255 generation data sets. If you attempt to specify any number larger than 255 for NOEXTENDED (or 999 for EXTENDED), you'll get an IDC3221I message stating that the value is not within value range. From what I can tell, the EXTENDED parameter was added in z/OS version 2.2.

[AD991]

Thanks. It was an interview question so I had not had other details, I wrote the way I asked. But thank you for your answer, I think this is what I should have answered too.