A PDS or Partitioned Data Set is a dataset containing multiple MEMBERS, each of which holds a separate sub-data set, SIMILAR to a directory in other types of file systems.

This type of dataset is often used to hold executable programs (LOAD modules), source program libraries (ESPECIALLY Assembler macro definitions). A PDS is most somewhat analogous to a Zip file on microcomputers, except the files stored in a PDS are not compressed.

The Partitioned Data Set can only allocate on a single volume with the maximum SIZE of 65536 tracks.

Besides members, a PDS consists also of their directory.

Each member can be accessed directly using the directory structure. Once a member is located, the data stored in that member is handled in the same manner as a PS (sequential) data set.

A PDS or Partitioned Data Set is a dataset containing multiple members, each of which holds a separate sub-data set, similar to a directory in other types of file systems.

This type of dataset is often used to hold executable programs (load modules), source program libraries (especially Assembler macro definitions). A PDS is most somewhat analogous to a Zip file on microcomputers, except the files stored in a PDS are not compressed.

The Partitioned Data Set can only allocate on a single volume with the maximum size of 65536 tracks.

Besides members, a PDS consists also of their directory.

Each member can be accessed directly using the directory structure. Once a member is located, the data stored in that member is handled in the same manner as a PS (sequential) data set.