The dynamic allocation program--values

Values are classified as follows:

Keyword value
Keyword values must be specified for some keywords. For example, the STATUS keyword may have a keyword value of SHR, NEW, MOD, or OLD (which can be abbreviated).
String of key letters
The value can be a string of letters in any order. The program does not check that the combination of letters provided is meaningful. For example, for the RECFM keyword, the value can be a string of letters from A, B, D, F, G, M, R, S, T, U, and V.
Returned values
No value should be provided by the terminal operator, because this keyword requests a value to be returned by the DYNALLOC information retrieval features. The further description refers to the kind of value that will be returned. This is usually in the form in which the operator would enter it, although in a few cases the value is as a hexadecimal string.
Not allowed
Some keywords do not require a value, and you must not provide one.
Required
A value must be provided if the keyword coded is designated as requiring a value.
Optional
Specification of a value is optional for some keywords.
Single
Only one value may be provided for some keywords.
Multiple
For some keywords, more than one value is permitted. (In some cases, DYNALLOC requires more than one value, although the dynamic allocation sample program does not enforce this.)
Character string
Any characters are permitted in this type of value, although in most cases there will be additional rules to follow, for example, for the DSNAME keyword.
Numeric string
Only numeric characters are allowed for this type of value, for example, for the EXPDT keyword.
Maximum and minimum lengths
For character and numeric values, the maximum and minimum lengths of the value are checked by the program. For a fixed-length string, these values are the same. The value is still passed to DYNALLOC as specified.
Convertible to n byte binary
A numeric value is required, of a magnitude representable in binary in the specified number of bytes. Values that are too large are truncated to the maximum possible for the width.

The dynamic allocation sample program does not support negative numbers. It does not cross-check operand keywords; errors of this type usually cause DYNALLOC to return error codes of the form 03xx.

Abbreviation rules for keywords

Keywords can be abbreviated. A word in the command matches a keyword if:

If an ambiguity occurs, the program diagnoses the ambiguity, and lists the possible keywords.

System programming considerations

Keyword spellings are defined in the program’s table, DFH99T, which is link-edited with the program. Where possible, these are the same as the corresponding job control or TSO keywords. Comments in the source code for DFH99T explain how the system programmer can:

Member DFH99BLD in CICSTS31.CICS.SDFHINST is the job stream used to build the program. If part of the program has been modified, reassemble that part and link-edit the program again.

The macros IEFZB4D0 (DYNALLOC parameter list structure) and IEFZB4D2 (symbolic key equates), provided by MVS™, are used in the dynamic allocation program and its keyword table. The meaning of each keyword in the table is defined in terms of a symbolic name, defined by one of the macros IEFZB4D0 or IEFZB4D2. The definitions of command keywords given in that manual should be regarded in preference to those from any other source. To obtain a list of command keywords and their symbolic values, for use as a cross-reference to the MVS manual, assemble DFH99T with option SYSPARM(LIST), and print the resulting object code. If the table is changed, repeat the assembly to obtain a new list.

Related concepts
Overview of the dynamic allocation program
Related tasks
Installing the program and transaction definitions
The dynamic allocation program--terminal operation
Using the dynamic allocation program’s Help feature
Related reference
The flow of control when a DYNALLOC request is issued
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