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Version: 8.1

UDM - cd (Change Directory) Command - z/OS

The cd (Change Directory) command moves the current position within a file system. Position means different things depending on the file system.

This page describes the behavior of the cd command for each file system.

DSN (data set name) File System​

The DSN (data set name) file system has no directories. The cd command treats each data set qualifier as a directory in regards to traversing and positioning within the data set name space.

UDM initializes the current directory to a high-level qualifier equal to the user identifier with which UDM executes.

A cd value can be enclosed in apostrophes ('). One or more qualifiers enclosed in apostrophes replaces the current directory value.

A cd value not enclosed in apostrophes is concatenated to the current directory value separated by a period (.), effectively moving up in the hierarchy.

There are two special directory (qualifier) names:

  1. Current directory - represented by a single period (.)
    Directory name . makes no change.
  2. Previous directory - represented by two periods (..).
    Directory name .. moves back one qualifier.

Examples​

The following table provides examples of positioning within the data set file system using the cd command. The examples assume the following:

  • User ID of TOM123
  • UDM logical name SRV

Current Directory before cd

cd command

Current Directory after cd

TOM123

cd srv=data

TOM123.DATA

TOM123.DATA

cd srv=app1.jcl

TOM123.DATA.APP1.JCL

TOM123.DATA.APP1.JCL

cd srv=..

TOM123.DATA.APP1

TOM123.DATA.APP1

cd srv='GAM789.DATA'

GAM789.DATA

GAM789.DATA

cd srv=..

GAM789

GAM789

cd srv=..

GAM789

DD (ddname) File System​

The DD (ddname) file system, like the DSN file system, has no directories. DD is the simplest form of file system in UDM.

A ddname is defined with a JCL DD statement. All the allocation attributes are specified with on the JCL DD statement.

UDM initializes the current directory to blanks in the DD file system.

A cd value specifies an allocated ddname to use as the current directory.