Apparatus, system, and method for automating VTOC driven data set maintenance

A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code programmed, said computer usable program when executed by a computer causes a processor to perform automated volume table of contents (VTOC) driven data set maintenance, the computer program product having operations comprising:

• retrieving information regarding data sets residing on a volume by way of a volume table of contents (VTOC);
• retaining data set anonymity by first determining the contents and associations of the volume from the VTOC;
• determining at least one maintenance operation to perform on the data sets for which the information is retrieved, wherein the maintenance operation includes at least one of cataloging data sets, uncataloging data sets, and deleting data sets;
• identifying related data sets using an association identifier obtained from the information regarding the data sets, wherein identified related data sets searching each data set listed in the VTOC and retrieving the identified information regarding each data set;
• generating at least one JCL control statement depending on the type of maintenance operation determined for performing the at least one maintenance operation on the data sets for which the information is retrieved, wherein at least one JCL control statement identifies resources required to execute the JCL control statement;
• and
• executing the at least one JCL control statement to perform the at least one maintenance operation on the data sets for which the information is retrieved and on the related data sets.

A method to enhance automating volume table of contents (VTOC) driven data set maintenance, the method comprising:

• receiving a set of initial control statements configured to determine a volume to process and identify a maintenance category, for the volume;
• providing receiving an integrated catalog facility (ICF) catalog;
• and executing a data set maintenance tool configured to:
• retrieve information regarding data sets residing on a volume using a volume table of contents (VTOC);
• retain data set anonymity by first determining the contents and associations of the volume from the VTOC;
• determine at least one maintenance operation to perform on the data sets for which the information is retrieved, wherein at least one maintenance operation includes cataloging data sets, uncataloging data sets, and deleting data sets;
• identify related data sets a using an association identifier obtained from the retrieved information regarding the data sets, wherein identified related data sets searching each data set listed in the VTOC and retrieving the identified information regarding each data set;
• generate at least one JCL control statement depending on the type of maintenance operation determined for performing the at least one maintenance operation on the data sets for which the information is retrieved, wherein at least one JCL control statement identifies resources required to execute the JCL control statement;
• and
• execute the at least one JCL control statement to perform the at least one maintenance operation on the data sets for which the information is retrieved and on the related data sets.

A system configured to facilitate automating volume table of contents (VTOC) driven data set maintenance, the system comprising:

• a computer comprising at least one direct access storage device (DASD), random access memory (RAM), and at least one central processing unit (CPU) configured to access the random access memory and the direct access storage device;
• at least one integrated catalog facility (ICF) catalog comprising data sets and meta-data for data sets;
• a data set maintenance resource stored on a DASD and configured to run on a CPU in response to
• a reportable operational event in the ICF catalog, the data set maintenance resource comprising:
• an information module configured to retrieve information regarding data sets residing on a volume while retaining data set anonymity by first determining the contents and associations of the volume from a volume table of contents (VTOC);
• a determination module configured to determine at least one maintenance operation to perform on the data sets for which the information module retrieved information, wherein the maintenance operation includes at least one of cataloging data sets, uncataloging data sets, and deleting data sets;
• an identification module configured to identify related data sets using an association identifier obtained from the information retrieved by the information module, wherein identified related data sets searching each data set listed in the VTOC and retrieving the identified information regarding each data set;
• a generation module configured to generate at least one JCL control statement depending on the type of maintenance operation determined for performing the at least one maintenance operation on the data sets for which the information module retrieved information, wherein at least one JCL control statement identifies resources required to execute the JCL control statement;
• and
• an execution module configured to execute the at least one JCL control statement to perform the at least one maintenance operation on the data sets for which the information module retrieved information and on the related data sets.