ETA: That JCL isn't creating a PDS and has at least one syntax error in it that would prevent it from running anyway. I think that you need to 'fess up and tell us what you're really trying to do and what you've really done.

I am trying to copy the PDS into a GDG that will be essentially a PDS like data set, allow editing, copies, moves of individual member. Yes this is for backup reasons. if a restore of a member is needed we can pull it back into the original library.

Akatsukami, Wouldn't have asked the question if I hadn't exhausted all of my available resources. Searched the site high and low for this information and it never popped out. Thanks for pointing me at the correct location. I'll see what I can come up with after I read these documents. Based on a brief look, think the whole process may have to be re-evaluated and a different approach investigated. Thanks again!

My JCL runs to completion with all condition code zero's but the output GDG is a flat file that just lists the pds members. So I am not sure what syntax error you are seeing. I am not that familar with either IEBPTPCH or SORT. When I used FILEMGR the data set was also created but again as a listing not an edit friendly data set. IEBCOPY, IEBGENER, ICETOOL and IDCAMS are all failing with a cond code 12 wrong length record on the input file, I have tried to use quickref for a fix but doesn't provide much info and I have always been on the other side of these types of abends so I'm not sure what needs to be done or how to correct it. Never used ICETOOL until I began this project. Have used the other utilities but it has been a while. Hope this counts as a confession, not sure what else to say.

gcicchet, I tried using IEBCOPY and the job keeps failing on a wrong length record on the input dsn. I don't know enough about this type of error to know how to fix it or what is causing it. But thanks I appreciate the info.

I did get a couple of the IEBCOPY jobs to complete and catalog a data set. But when I tried to edit the data set I got and error "INVALID DSORG". I have run this job so many times and tried so many different PGMS that I am confused on what went wrong. The job that executed IEBGENER were failing with the CC12 wrong length record on the input file. Sorry I am so messed up. Been working on this for a few days and getting really frustrated.

Gerry, The sysout goes to SAR, I have to restore it. It takes a while to get it reloaded. I will make a copy of your JCL and try that out. I'm at work and have to get busy doing something else (sorry). I do not want to take up any more of your time. I really thank you for all the effort.