ASSGN

Assigns a logical I/O unit to a physical device, either directly or using another logical I/O.

Syntax:

      *---------------------------------------------------------------
      *--- ASSGN OPERANDS
      *--- // ASSGN SYSxxx,
      *---         (address or address list or
      *---          UA or IGN               or
      *---          SYSyyy                  or
      *---          device class            or
      *---          device type),
      *---          and additionally for DISK devices
      *---          [TEMP or PERM],[VOL=volume],{SHR]
      *---          and additionally for TAPE devices
      *---         ,[mode],[ALT],[PERM],[VOL=VOLUME]
      *---------------------------------------------------------------

Where:

SYSxxx
The logical unit name: SYSRDR, SYSIPT, SYSIN, SYSPCH, SYSLST, SYSOUT, SYSLNK, or SYSLOG.

Or, when xxx is numeric, aprogrammer logical unit. For example, SYS040 for a program containing select report1 assign to SYS040 in the file control section.

address list
A physical device as defined in the VSE system configuration file (described separately).
UA or IGN
Parsed but not processed.
UA
Unassigns a logical unit.
IGN
Unassigns the specified logical unit and ignores any subsequent logical IOCS command.
SYSyyy
Associates SYSyyy with the same device as SYSxxx.

One of SYSLST, SYSOUT, SYSLNK, or SYSLOG.

device class
Parsed but not processed.

Use this specification if you are interested only in the specific class of device.

device type
Parsed but not processed.

Use this specification, if you are interested only in the specific type of device.

ALT
Parsed but not processed*.

Indicates alternate tape unit.

PERM
Parsed but not processed.

Indicates that this DLBL definition can be cleared only with an explicit CLEAR request.

VOL
Parsed but not processed*.

VOL=volser - specifies the volume serial number of the required device.

SHR
Parsed but not processed*.

For disk devices only. Means that the unit can be assigned to a disk device which is already assigned.

Note: The command and operand combinations listed in these topics are supported unless indicated as "parsed but not processed". Where indicated, this means:
  • Parsed but not processed - indicates that the command and the operand are not supported, however, Enterprise Developer parses it and, if it fails validation, a JCL error is generated.
  • Parsed but not processed* - indicates that a number of the operands for JCL and POWER commands (for example, any tape or volume-specific operands) do not apply in the Enterprise Developer environment. See General Differences.