Use the FREE command to release (deallocate) previously allocated data sets that you no longer need. You can also use this command to change the output class of SYSOUT data sets, to delete attribute lists, and to change the data set disposition specified with the ALLOCATE command.
There is a maximum number of data sets that can be allocated to you at anyone time. The allowable number must be large enough to accommodate:
• Data sets allocated by the LOGON and ALLOCATE commands
• Data sets allocated dynamically by the system's command processors The data sets allocated by the LOGON and ALLOCATE commands are not freed automatically. To avoid the possibility of reaching your limit and being denied necessary resources, you should use the FREE command to release these data sets when they are no longer needed.
When a SYSOUT data set is freed, it is immediately available for output processing, either by the job entry subsystem (not-held data sets) or by the OUTPUT command (held data sets).
When you free SYSOUT data sets, you can change their output class to make them available for processing by an output writer, or route them to another user.
When you enter the LOGOFF command, all data sets allocated to you and attribute lists created during the terminal session are freed by the system.
UNALLOC is the alias of FREE and is intended for use under TEST because FREE is an alias for the FREEMAIN subcommand.
Note: Data sets that are dynamically allocated by a command processor are not automatically freed when the command processor terminates. You must explicitly free dynamically allocated data sets.
FREE
ALL
[
DSNAME (dataset-name-list) ) 1
DATASET (dataset-name-list)
Choose one or more of these operands within braces.
2 DELETE is the only disposition that is valid for SYSOUT data sets.
140 TSO Extensions Command Language Reference
ALL
requests deallocation of all dynamically allocated data sets, files, and attribute lists that are not marked in-use.
DATASET or DSNAME(data-set-name-list)
specifies one or more data set names that identify the data sets that you want to free. The data set name must include the descriptive (rightmost) qualifier and can contain a member name in parentheses. If you omit this operand, you must specify either FILE, DDNAME, or the ATTRLIST operand.
FILE or DDNAME(file-name-list)
specifies one or more file names that identify the data sets to be freed. If you omit this operand, you must specify either the DATASET or DSNAME or the ATTRLIST operand.
ATTRLIST(attr-list-names)
specifies the names of one or more attribute lists that you want to delete. If you omit this operand, you must specify either the DATASET or DSNAME or the FILE or DDNAME operand.
DEST(stationid)
specifies a name of a remote work station to which the SYSOUT data sets are directed when ready for deallocation. The station ID is a one to eight character name. If this operand is omitted on the FREE command for SYSOUT data sets, the data sets are directed to the work station specified at the time of allocation.
HOLD
specifies the data set is to be placed on the HOLD queue. HOLD overrides any HOLD/NOHOLD specification made when the data set was originally allocated and it also overrides the default HOLD/NOHOLD specification associated with the particular SYSOUT class specified.
NOHOLD
specifies the data set is not to be placed on the HOLD queue. NOHOLD overrides any HOLD/NOHOLD specification made when the data set was originally allocated and it also overrides the default HOLD/NOHOLD specification associated with the particular SYSOUT class specified.
KEEP
specifies the data set is to be retained by the system after it is freed.
DELETE
specifies the data set is to be deleted by the system after it is freed.
DELETE is not valid for data sets allocated with SHR or for members of a PDS. Only DELETE is valid for SYSOUT data sets.
CATALOG
specifies the data set is to be retained by the system in a catalog after it is freed.
FREE Command 141
UNCATALOG
specifies the data set is to be removed from the catalog after it is freed. The data set is still retained by the system.
If HOLD, NOHOLD, KEEP, DELETE, CATALOG, and UNCATALOG are not specified, the specification indicated at the time of allocation remains in effect.
SYSOUT(class)
specifies an output class which is represented by a single character. All of the system output (SYSOUT) data sets specified in the DATASET or DSNAME and FILE or DDNAME operands are assigned to this class and placed in the output queue for processing by an output writer. In order to free a file to SYSOUT, the file must have previously been allocated to SYSOUT.
A concatenated data set that was allocated in a LOGON procedure or by the ALLOCATE command can be freed only by entering the DD name on the FILE or DDNAME operand. It can also be freed by entering FREE ALL.
Example 1
Operation: Free a data set by specifying its data set name.
Known:
The data set name: TOC903.PROGA.LOAD free dataset(proga.load)
Example 2
Operation: Free three data sets by specifying their data set names.
Known:
The data set names: APRIL.PB99CY.ASM, APRIL.FIRSTQTR.DATA, MA Y.DESK.MSG
free dataset(pb99cy.asm,firstqtr.data,'may.desk .msg' )
142 TSO Extensions Command Language Reference
Example 3
Operation: Free five data sets by' specifying data set names or data definition names. Change the output class for any SYSOUT data sets being freed.
Known:
The name of a data set: WIND.MARCH.FORT
The file names (data definition names) of 4 data sets: SYSUTI SYSUT3 SYSIN SYSPRINT
The new output class: B
free dataset (march. fort) file(sysutl,sysut3,sysin, sysprint) sysout(b)
Example 4
Operation: Delete two attribute lists.
Known:
The names of the lists: DCBP ARMS ATTRIBUT free attrlist(dsbparms attribut) Example 5
Operation: Free all dynamically allocated data sets, files, and attribute lists.
free all
FREE Command 143