ERASE
ERASE Use the ERASE command to delete one or more eMS files from a read/write
disk. The format of the ERASE command is:
r -, I ERASE I fn ft fm [ (options ••• [) ]] , I I * * * , I I r , , I I IType I , I I , I , L j , L- fn is the filename of the to be erased. An asterisk coded
in this position indicates that all filenames are to be used.
fn must be specified, either with a name or an asterisk.
ft is the filetype of the file(s) to be erased. An asterisk coded
in this position indicates that all filetypes are to be used.
This field must be specified, either with a name or an asterisk.
fm is the filemode of the files to be erased. If this field is
omitted, only the A-disk is searched. An asterisk coded in this
position indicates that files with the specified filename and/or
filetype are to be erased from all read/write disks. TYPE displays at the terminal the file identifier of each file
erased. file identifiers are not displayed at the terminal. 1. If you specify an asterisk for both filename and filetype you must
specify both a filemode letter and number; for example:
erase * * as
2. To erase all files on a particular disk, you can use the FORMAT command to reformat it or access the disk using the ACCESS command
with the ERASE option.
3. If an asterisk is entered as the filemode, then either the filename
or the filetype or both must be specified by name.
Section 2. CMS Commands 81

If you specify the TYPE option, the file identification of each file erased is displayed. For example:
erase oldfile temp (type
results in the display: OLDFILE TEMP Al R; DMSERS002E FILE ['fn [ft [fm]]'] NOT FOUND RC=28 DMSERS003E INVALID OPTION 'option' RC=24 DMSERS031E DISK 'mode' IS READ/ONLY RC=36 DMSERS04AE INVALID MODE 'mode' RC=24 DMSERS054E FILEID SPECIFIED RC=24 DMSERS06QE DISK 'mode' NOT ACCESSED RC=36 DMSERS010E INVALID PARAMETER 'parameter' RC=24 DMSERS011E ERASE * * [*Imode] NOT ALLOWED RC=24 DMSERS10QT VIRTUAL STORAGE CAPACITY EXCEEDED NQi§: You can invoke the ERASE command from the terminal, from an EXEC file, or as a function from a program. If ERASE is invoked as a function or from an EXEC file that has the &CONTROL NOMSG option in effect, no error message is issued. 82 IBM VM/370 CMS command and Macro Reference