Most Efficient Way of Purging File

One option would be to run an SQL statement to remove the old records
(submitting it to batch), then changing the file to reuse deleted
records.

By reusing deleted records, you don't have to run reorgs all over the
place.

You may have to run one after your initial purge though if you wish to
reclaim space.

How many records in this file would you consider - not needed?

If you have several years worth of records, but only wish to keep a few,
then the SQL delete with reuse deleted records = '*YES' would keep the
file at a somewhat consistent size. (Assuming normal growth of the file
each year)

Thanks.
James Salter
Systems Programmer
American Cast Iron Pipe Company
phone (205) 325-3033
fax (205) 307-3833


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message: 2
date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:19:08 +0000
from: " Jonathan Mason " <jonathan.mason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: Most Efficient Way of Purging File

We have a file that has an enormous number of records in (just over 1.9
billion) and want to clear it down a bit to reclaim some much needed
DASD. The trouble is that because of the file size our standard purge
routine takes longer than the available 17 hour window that we have for
running housekeeping tasks.

At the moment we think we have two choices available to us:

1. Use SQL DELETE to remove all the records we want to purge and then
run a RGZPFM over the file

2. Restore a copy of the file from tape to a second server, and use CPYF
to create a new version of the physical with only those records we want
to retain and then restore that over the original. We think this will
automatically perform the RGZPFM as part of the restore/copy.

Does anybody have any experience or advice on performing this sort of
"purge", ideas on how to improve performance, etc, etc.

We're running V5R4 and there are eight logicals over the file.

Thanks

Jonathan







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