IEBCOPY Utility

IEBCOPY Utility

IEBCOPY is a data set utility program in a mainframe environment that is used to copy members from one or more PDS (Partitioned Data Set) or PDSE (Partitioned Data Set Extended) to another. It is also used to merge members between one or more PDS, or PDSE. The copying or merging can be full or partial.

IEBCOPY stands for "IEB Input-Output COPY" and it is only used to manage PDS or PDSE and not applicable on PS (Physical sequential).

This utility is most commonly used for the below purposes -

  • Copy all or selected members from one PDS to another.
  • Unload a PDS into a unique sequential data set (file).
  • Load a unloaded sequential data set (sequential file) and recreate the original partitioned data set.
  • To compress partitioned data sets (in place) to recover lost space.

Syntax -

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
//job-Card-and-parameters
//STEP1    EXEC PGM=IEBCOPY
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSOUT   DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSDUMP  DD SYSOUT=* 
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=...
//SYSUT2   DD DSN=...
//SYSUT3   DD UNIT=..
//SYSUT4   DD UNIT=..
//SYSIN    DD *
   control-statements
/*
  • SYSPRINT - Optional. Utility programs use it for their output.
  • SYSOUT - Optional. SYSOUT specifies a system-defined DD name for file status codes, system abend codes information, and the display statement output.
  • SYSDUMP - Optional. The system uses it for dumping when an abend occurs.
  • SYSUT01/any-ddname - Mandatory. This is an input DD statement. Multiple DD statements can be provided as input.
  • SYSUT02/any-ddname - Mandatory. This is an output DD statement.
  • SYSUT03/SYSUT04 - Optional. These are buffer memory DD statements (SYSUT03 for input and SYSUT04 for output) for processing the task.
  • SYSIN - Contains the control statements for processing the task.
  • control-statements - utility control statements that are used to perform a task.

Return Codes -

  • IEBCOPY returns a code in register 15 to specify the results of utility execution status.
  • The return codes of IEBCOPY and the meanings are -
    • 00 (X'00') - Successful completion.
    • 04 (X'04') - One or more COPY or COPYGRP operations completed unsuccessfully or uncompleted.
      Recovery may be possible for this case.
    • 08 (X'08') - An unrecoverable error exists. The utility ends.
Note! We have explained about the IEBCOPY frequently performing tasks below. To learn more, use the left navigation '+' for the topics explained in detail.

Copy members from PDS to PDS

IEBCOPY is used for copying members from one PDS to other. It can be used to backup the entire dataset, copy members between different datasets, and perform various members manipulation tasks. The copy can be full or partial.

Practical Example -

Scenario - Copying all members from one dataset to another.

JCL -

Full Example    
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
...
//STEP10   EXEC PGM=IEBCOPY
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.INPPDS,DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.OUTPDS,
//            DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
//            SPACE=(TRK,(10,10,10),RLSE),
//            UNIT=3390,VOL=SER=DEVHD4,
//            DCB=(DSORG=PO,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800)
//SYSIN    DD *
     COPY INDD=SYSUT1,OUTDD=SYSUT2
/*
...

Selecting Members for Copy

IEBCOPY SELECT statement is used to select members from one or more PDS during the copy. Selected members are searched in an a-to-z order, regardless of the coded order in the SELECT statement.

Practical Example -

Scenario - Copying specific members (COPY) from one PDS to another.

JCL -

Full Example    
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
...
//STEP10   EXEC PGM=IEBCOPY
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.INPPDS,DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.OUTPDS,DISP=OLD
//SYSIN    DD *
     COPY INDD=SYSUT1,OUTDD=SYSUT2
     SELECT MEMBER=FIRSTPRG,IDENTDIV,LEVELNUM
/*
...

Excluding Members from a Copy

IEBCOPY EXCLUDE statement used to exclude the coded members during the copy, unload, and load operations. The excluded member is searched on every input PDS and is omitted.

Practical Example -

Scenario - Excluding a members while copying from one PDS to another.

Input -

EXCLUDE Input

JCL -

Full Example    
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
...
//STEP10   EXEC PGM=IEBCOPY
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.INPPDS,DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.OUTPDS,DISP=OLD
//SYSIN    DD *
     COPY INDD=SYSUT1,OUTDD=SYSUT2
     EXCLUDE MEMBER=MAINPROG
/*
...

Rename Members during Copy

IEBCOPY COPY statement used to rename the members while copying from source to destination PDS. This process helps when copying from two or more members from source PDS that has the same name.

Practical Example -

Scenario - Renaming members while copying from one PDS to another.

JCL -

Full Example    
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
...
//STEP10   EXEC PGM=IEBCOPY
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.INPPDS,DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.OUTPDS,DISP=OLD
//SYSIN    DD *
     COPY INDD=SYSUT1,OUTDD=SYSUT2
     SELECT MEMBER=(FIRSTPRG,FRSTPRG1,R)
/*
...

Compress PDS

IEBCOPY can be used to compress a PDS. A PDS may contain unused areas from a deleted member, or the old version of an updated member. Compressing a PDS involves removing unused or deleted members and reclaiming space within the dataset. This helps in optimizing storage usage.

Practical Example -

Scenario - Compressing a PDS.

JCL -

Full Example    
----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
...
//STEP10   EXEC PGM=IEBCOPY
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEBCOPY.INPPDS,DISP=SHR
//SYSIN    DD *
  COPY OUTDD=SYSUT1,INDD=SYSUT1
/*
...

Want to Learn More?

If you want to learn more about IEBCOPY utility, go through the below topics explained with examples -

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