It's in the "managing catalogs" manual under the "extended alias support" section. Last line below - 44 characters but it doesn't specify if that's before resolution, after, or both. Taking the comment at face value, it would imply before resolution is max 44.
• If the resolved name is a non-VSAM data set, it is done at the time of reference to the data set by a catalog request. IDCAMS resolves the symbolic related name for an alias to make sure requests are oriented to the correct catalog. The restriction on the IDCAMS DEFINE ALIAS command that the resolved value for the symbolic related entryname must be a catalog entry that is located in the same catalog that contains the value for aliasname has been removed. See z/OS DFSMS Access Method Services Commands for information on the IDCAMS DEFINE ALIAS command. The symbolic string must not exceed 44 characters, including all name segments and periods. Rex -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Paul Gilmartin Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 12:20 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: IDCAMS ALIAS vs a symbolic link? On Mon, 28 Mar 2022 22:39:12 +0000, Pommier, Rex wrote: > ... > Just for fun I defined a symbolic called &NULL and IPLed my sandbox > resulting in (in part) this: > >IEA007I STATIC SYSTEM SYMBOL VALUES 045 > &NULL. = "" > >I then defined a new SYM alias: > > DEF ALIAS(NAME(SYS1.REX) SYM(RRP.&NULL.JCL)) >IDC0001I FUNCTION COMPLETED, HIGHEST CONDITION CODE WAS 0 > Looking at <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/2.5.0?topic=dap-required-parameters__;!!KjMRP1Ixj6eLE0Fj!9lXQZVcmmr5HOhOMVSLA0GThxck5Wqdcs6MIWs7-QO5zdLpwqK286Mqh_qXUP74TGw$ > SYMBOLICRELATE(entryname) ... What's the maximum length of the entryname? I don't see it specified on that page. Perhaps elsewhere? -- gil ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The information contained in this message is confidential, protected from disclosure and may be legally privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, distribution, copying, or any action taken or action omitted in reliance on it, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this message and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
