Mark's follow up question is posted below:

Mark,

From the SAS online documentation: > specifies how long the SAS System waits for a data set that is held by another job or user before the LIBNAME statement fails. The value n specifies a length of time in clock minutes. If the data set becomes free before n minutes expire, then the LIBNAME statement is processed as usual. The dynamic allocation request is retried internally every 15 seconds. > For batch jobs using WAIT=, also specify the FILEMSGS option (see FILEMSGS), which causes a message to be written to the system log for each allocation attempt, thus allowing system operators to determine why the job is waiting.

I haven't seen that message before, and cannot find a reference to it in the online documentation. I have also not run V8 on both client and host in OS/390 either, and it is possible this is caused by some Version 8 option I haven't seen. My frequent use of the WAIT option in V6.12 suggests it is probably not a Version 6 feature.

The message looks like a dynamic process, which suggests you are running SAS on OS/390 in interactive mode. I certainly would not expect this message to be produced in batch. Any enlightenment on this would be appreciated, especially the option that will turn it off.

By the way, I am one of many people who see the list in digest mode. This means I see multiple messages within a single message. It also means I can miss quite a few messages if one digest fails to be delivered. There have been two digests in the past 24 hours which might have failed to be delivered (one for size, one for inappropriate content).

If you want to direct a question to a particular person on SAS/L, it would be safer to copy the message to that person directly.

With kind regards David Johnson * 07092 25 9556 * sasuser@dkvj.co.uk * http://www.dkvj.co.uk This message is attributable to the sender and does not necessarily reflect the view of HBOS plc or its subsidiaries. The contents of this message and any attached files should be treated as Confidential Information by the recipient. Please notify the sender if you have received this message in error.

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 08:48:29 -0800 From: Mark Mullins <mlmullins@BBANDT.COM> Subject: Re: Rsubmit: How can you program to check for filename error?

David, See below. When you use the Wait command, is the system trying to access the file every couple of minutes, or does it wait a full 30 minutes, and then try again? It appears that it just waits the full 30 minutes. Also, do you know of any good print resources for this type of coding? Thanks for your help!

REMOTE(MVS): Unable to allocate because data set G060.CL890.BM.CUST2(0) is in use. Do you REMOTE(MVS): want to wait the specified waittime of 30 min(s). Enter Y for Yes or N for REMOTE(MVS): trying once more.

**** As an aside, the following macro availabe on the SAS website does help me, in that it will abort the program if the file is not available. %MACRO CHECKRC; %IF &SYSFILRC NE 0 %THEN %DO; DATA _NULL_; ABORT RETURN 4; %END; %MEND CHECKRC; %CHECKRC; ***

Mark

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