Reasons for allocation errors when copying files
If another job allocates a member with too strong a lock state, the copy operation might end with an error message. This is also true if the library containing the file is renamed during the copy operation. When a copy command runs, the to-file might be locked (similar to an *EXCL lock with no time-out) so that no access is possible. Any attempt to use a function that must touch the to-file locks up the workstation until the copy command completes. For instance, you should not use the following functions on a to-file that you are copying:
WRKACTJOB
Option 11 (Work with Locks)
Option 5 (Work with Job Member Locks)
Option 8 (Work with Object Locks)
DSPDBR
DSPFD
DSPFFD
WRKJOB
Option 12 (Work with Locks, if active)
Option 5 (Work with Job Member Locks)
F10 (Display Open Files, if active)
WRKLIB
The library containing the to-file
DSPLIB
The library containing the to-file
WRKOBJLCK
WRKRCDLCKIf you want to display any information about a to-file, anticipate the requirement and force the copy command to use block record-at-a-time operations by specifying ERRLVL(1).
If you anticipate that problems might arise because of this, you can preallocate the files and members using the Allocate Object (ALCOBJ) command.
Parent topic:
Prevention of allocation errors when copying files
Related information
Control language (CL)