Alt               (VSAM)

DESCRIPTION
"Alt" tells if a "Dataset" is an alternate index to a "Primary Dataset". The 
name of the "Primary Dataset" appears on an alternate's Dataset Screen. Open a 
Dataset Screen by clicking on an entry in the VSAM Screen.


VALUES
"Alt" may display one of three possible values: 'Y', 'N', or nothing.


INTERPRETATION
"Alt" displays a 'Y' for an alternate index or an 'N' if the entry is not for
an alternate. There are a couple of reasons why "Alt" may be blank. If the 
"RSys" column shows a remote system name, the "Dataset" resides on that remote 
system. In this case, Sun MTPScan does not know if the entry is for an alternate or 
a primary dataset. However, if "Alt" is blank and there is nothing in the "RSys"
column, the dataset may be defined in the Sun MTP File Control Table (FCT) but 
not in the File Manager. All files defined in the FCT should be present in the 
File Manager.


CONCLUSIONS
An alternate index accesses the same segments as the primary index because both
actually reference the same data file (and its segments). An alternate index is 
defined in both the FCT and the File Manager. In order to create an alternate 
index, you must recreate the VSAM file with the Record Editor or unikixbld. The 
Record Editor or unikixbld automatically create alternates from the information 
configured in the FCT and File Manager.
