Summary -

In this topic, we described about the DD RECFM with detailed example.

RECFM parameter used to specify the record format and characteristics in the new dataset. All the format and characteristics must be specified in one place only.

RECFM is an optional parameter. Code RECFM parameter only when to specify record format of the new dataset or to override the record format specified in Data class.

Syntax: BDAM access method:

RECFM=     {U  }
           {V  }
           {VS }
           {VBS}
           {F  }
           {FT }

Default: undefined-length, unblocked records.

U Specifies the records are undefined length.
V Specifies the records are variable length.
VS Specifies the records are variable length and spanned.
VBS Specifies the records are variable length, blocked and spanned.
The problem program must block and segment the records.
F Specifies the records are fixed length.
T Specifies the records may be written using the track-overflow feature.

Syntax: BPAM Access Method

RECFM=     {U   } [A]
           {UT  } [M]
           {V   }
           {VB  }
           {VS  }
           {VT  }
           {VBS }
           {VBT }
           {VBST}
           {F   }
           {FB  }
           {FT  }
           {FBT }

Default: U

A Specifies the records contain ISO/ANSI control characters.
B Specifies the records are blocked.
F Specifies the records are fixed length.
M Specifies the records contain machine code control characters.
T Specifies the records may be written using the track-overflow feature.
U Specifies the records are undefined length.
V Specifies the records are variable length.

Syntax: BSAM, EXCP, and QSAM Access Methods

RECFM= {U   } [A]
            {UT  } [M]
            {F   }
            {FB  }
            {FS  }
            {FT  }
            {FBS }
            {FBT }
            {V   }
            {VB  }
            {VS  }
            {VT  }
            {VBS }
            {VBT }
            {VBST}

Default: U

A Specifies the records contain ISO/ANSI control characters.
B Specifies the records are blocked.
D Specifies the records are variable-length ISO/ANSI tape records.
F Specifies the records are fixed length.
M Specifies the records contain machine code control characters.
S (1) For fixed-length records, indicates that the records are written as standard blocks, (2) For variable-length records, indicates that a record can span more than one block.
T Specifies the records can be written using the track-overflow feature, if required.
U Specifies the records are undefined length.
V Specifies the records are variable length.
Note: A or M can be coded with any record format, such as: RECFM=FBA

Example 1:

//DD01    DD  DSNAME=MTH.DATA,DISP=(NEW,KEEP),
// RECFM=FB,LRECL=625

In the above example, the record format of fixed block (FB) is used for the new data set MTH.DATA.

Example 2:

//DD01   DD  DSNAME=MTH.DATA,DATACLAS=DCLAS07,DISP=(NEW,KEEP),
//  RECFM=FB

In the above example, the record format of fixed block (FB) overrides the record format defined in the data class for the data set.