Method of identifying shared and unshared information using system chapters, a sysplex chapter, a table of contents, and a header

摘要

The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and memory for providing data manipulation capabilities in a distributed processing complex comprised of multiple interconnected and coordinated computer systems. In accordance with the present invention, a data set is allocated in a data storage device coupled to the computer systems and the data set is logically subdivided into system chapters, a sysplex chapter, a table of contents, and a header. System data is stored in the system chapters. Shared data is stored in the sysplex chapter. Chapter location information that points to locations for the system chapters and the sysplex chapter is stored in the table of contents. Table of contents location information that points to a location of the table of contents is stored in the header.