Skip to content

File Extensions Page

Windows uses file extensions to determine the file type. For registered file types, the extension indicates what icon is displayed and what program is used to open the file.

The default file extension is the last qualifier of the data set name. You can override this default and associate different file extensions based on data set name patterns.

Example

Specify that all data sets that match pattern **.CNTL have a file extension of .jcl.

All PDS member names are suffixed with a file extension, separated from the member name by a period.

Example

Assume that data sets matching pattern **.CNTL have a file extension of .jcl. The members of data set TSOID.TEST.CNTL would have file names like MEMBER1.jcl and MEMBER2.jcl. If no file extension was specified for **.CNTL, the file names would default to MEMBER1.cntl and MEMBER2.cntl.

For sequential data sets, a file extension is appended only when there is a file extension override for a matching data set name pattern. When the last qualifier of the data set name is being used as a file extension, which is the default, no additional file extension is necessary. When a file extension is appended to a sequential data set name, it is appended with a double period. The double period indicates that the file extension is not part of the true data set name.

Example

Assume that data sets matching pattern **.REPORT have a file extension of .txt. A sequential data set named TSOID.MONTHLY.REPORT would have a file name of TSOID.MONTHLY.REPORT.txt.

Note

File extensions can also be configured using the ChangeMan ZDD Wizard application, which allows you to configure multiple servers in a single step.

The File Extensions page of the DataSets folder properties.

The default file extension is the last qualifier of a data set name. To associate file extensions with data set name patterns, add entries to the list.

Field Description
Data set name Type a data set name or pattern. For example:
  • **.CNTL would apply to all data sets that end with CNTL. The following data sets would be affected:

    TSOID.CNTL
    TSOID.TEST.CNTL
  • *.CNTL would apply to data sets that have only two qualifiers and the second one is CNTL.

    TSOID.CNTL would be affected.
    TSOID.TEST.CNTL would not be affected.
File extension Type a file extension.

For example: jcl would change the extension for PDS members and sequential data sets to jcl.
Import Click to retrieve file extension associations from a file.
Export Click to save file extension associations to a file.

Click to add a file extension association.

To delete a file extension association, click .

To change a file extension association, use one of the following methods:

  • Delete it and add the new one.

  • Repeat the add process and the old entry will be overlaid.

File extensions are applied to data set name patterns in a hierarchical manner, from top to bottom. To change the order, use the buttons to reposition the entries.

...

Back to top