* Mark Names for later use in the Command field

* The '*' character can be used in the COMMAND field as a dummy variable for the name of a data object appearing in the file list. The * should be entered in the Action column of the file list next to the respective file. Once defined, the * <--> file, Job variable, or element name relationship will remain valid until replaced by another relationship, or erased by the CL* command.

*n Entering a number n (1 <= n <= 9) after the asterisk allows multiple abbreviations for names to be defined.

Notes:

The mapping of names to Action Codes by *, *1, *2, ..., *9 remains valid during a CFS run, even if a new file list is selected.

If elements of a PLAM library are displayed in the file list, the substitution of * in commands will be in the form lib(name). In certain cases, it is desirable to have the library name dropped when the name substitution takes place. In this case the command *E instead of * should be given.

A common cause of errors is the substitution of file/element names in a BS2000 command such as /FSTAT *XYZ*. Use the CL* (CLear *) command to prevent the substitution in these cases. This command cancels the relationship between * and the object name. * can thereafter used in commands without name substitutions taking place.

Examples:

NPLMS *,TEST

All elements will be displayed in the file list containg the string TEST in their name, and which are stored in the LMS library marked with *.

/CAT *,RETPD=0

The file marked with * will have its retention period set to 0 days. The STATE=U parameter, though not specified in the CAT command, will be supplied by CFS.

E *,TIME=100

Start an Enter job under control of the Job Report System.

If the file list consists of, for example, elements of a library PROC.ENTER, and an element J/TSOSLNK is marked with *, then the above command will have the * replaced by PROC.ENTER(TSOSLNK).