Directory file

The directory file is a catalog kept automatically by ARCHIVE of all saved files and job variables as well as the save versions and save volumes on which the data is saved.

The directory file allows ARCHIVE to offer straightforward management of save data and a simple method of restoring lost data. For this reason, you should always execute ARCHIVE save with a directory file. The directory file permits, for example, rapid access to information on saved data without having to access the relevant volumes (INQUIRE). In addition, the following ARCHIVE functions are available only if a directory file is used:

• incremental save and partial save

• requesting the save volumes from a prepared volume pool

• checking the uniqueness of a file name in a save version (see the example on section "Continuation of save versions" for a possible exception)

• easy reconstruction of the last save status of a file

• restart after a system crash or device error

The same directory file can be used for save operations (SAVE, EXPORT) to tape, MT cartridge and disk.

If no directory file is specified during a save run, ARCHIVE searches for a directory file with a name that corresponds to the parameter value DIR-S-PO-PU in the parameter file (see "SHOW-DEFAULT Display the default parameter settings").
If this value is not specified in the parameter file, ARCHIVE searches for a directory file with the name ARCHIVE.DIR. If no directory file exists with this name, ARCHIVE will issue the message ARC0157.

The directory file contains the following administrative information for each saved file or job variable:

• the name of the file or the job variable

• number of the save version identifier (svid);
  this contains the date and time of the save operation

• the VSNs of the save volumes on which the file or job variable is stored

• details of what was saved and the method of saving; ARCHIVE distinguishes between the following save types:

  Save type	Meaning
  CNS	The file is in the catalog but not saved
  CATL	The catalog entry of file was saved
  FULL	The entire file was saved
  PART	The file was only partially saved
  FGGI	The file generation group was saved
  MIGF	The file was migrated (see the section “Migrated files”, "ARCHIVE and HSMS"); the catalog entry was saved
  JV	The job variable was saved

• file version identifier from the catalog

• internal file name (CFID)

Managing the directory file

The following ARCHIVE statements are available for managing the directory file:

INQUIRE	Output information from the directory file.
PURGE	Delete save versions from the directory file.
POOL	Add/remove VSNs of magnetic tapes and magnetic tape cartridges to/from the pool of the directory file (see the next section).