[SOLVED] Is it possible to use wild characters to delete dataset on z/OS

Is it possible to use wild characters to delete dataset on z/OS

I want to remove lots of temporary PS datasets with dataset name like MYTEST.**, but still can't find an easy way to handle the task.
I meant to use a Shell command below to remove them

  cat "//'dataset.list'"| xargs -I '{}' tsocmd "delete '{}'"

However, first I have to save the dataset list into a PS dataset or Unix file. In Unix, we can redirect output of ls command into a text file: "ls MYTEST.* > dslist", but on TSO or ISPF panel, seems no simple command to do that.

Anyone has any clue on this? Your comment would be appreciated.

Solution

Rexx ISPF option is probably the easiest and can be used in the future, but options include:

Use the save command in ispf 3.4 to save to a file, then use a rexx program on the file created by the save command
listcat command, in particular

listcat lvl(MYTEST) ofile(ddname)

then write a rexx program to do the actual delete
Alternatively you can use the ISPF services LMDINIT, LMDLISTY & LMDFREE in a rexx program running under ISPF i.e.

       /* Rexx ispf program to process datasets */
       Address ispexec 
       "LMDINIT LISTID(lidv)  LEVEL(MYTEST)"
       "LMDLIST LISTID("lidv") OPTION(list) dataset(dsvar) stats(yes)"
       do while rc = 0
          /* Delete or whatever */
       end
       "LMDFREE LISTID("lidv")"

For all these methods you need to fully qualify the first High level qualifier.

Learning what Rexx / ISPF will serve you into the future. In the ISPF Editor, you can use the model command to get Templates / information for all the ISPF commands:

 Command ====> Model LMDINIT

will add a template for the lmdinit command. There are templates for rexx, cobol, pl1, ISPF-panels, ISPF-skeletons messages etc.