Problem:

On our MVS host if a dataset runs out of space (maximum extents of 16) the dataset can no longer be used until the space used/allocated is resolved. What happens in MFE? Is there a maximum dataset size? We are using VSAM datasets.

Resolution:

The following would be true of a Windows XP Pro 32-bit operating system with

Mainframe Express 3.0 installed.  

The allocation of space is just symbolic and not really used on the PC.

On the PC, the maximum in MFE before taking special manual action is 4Gig.

After that file size is reached, one would need an Extfh.Cfg using 'idxformat=8'  

and  'filemaxsize=8' (and if you want terabytes: 'filepointersize=8' ) for indexed

sequential files.

The entries for an Indexed Sequential file might look something look this:  

# to set global defaults and to override them for an individual

# file use something like this:

   [XFH-DEFAULT]

   idxformat=4

   filemaxsize=4

   [lorince.e081190.agaster.dat]

   idxformat=8

   filemaxsize=8

   filepointersize=8

A Record Sequential file would not use the idxformat file handler configuration option.