ERROR; "XCOMM0243E INVALID OR INCOMPLETE DCB CHARACTERISTICS"

Products

• XCOM Data Transport
• XCOM Data Transport - Windows
• XCOM Data Transport - Linux PC
• XCOM Data Transport - z/OS

Issue/Introduction

This article describes what can be the cause if a XCOM transfer from the Mainframe fails with message

XCOMM0243E INVALID OR INCOMPLETE DCB CHARACTERISTICS

Environment

• XCOM™ Data Transport® for z/OS
• XCOM™ Data Transport® for Window
• XCOM™ Data Transport® for UNIX/Linux PC

Resolution

When you receive message: XCOMM0243E INVALID OR INCOMPLETE DCB CHARACTERISTICS

Check the DCB-Characteristics of the file which are being sent. For example, if a file has these characteristics,

Dsorg Recfm Lrecl Blksz   
--------------------------   
PS    VB    0     27998

XCOM can not transfer it because these are not parameters which are supported by IBM. LRECL=0 is valid only for RECFM=U as stated in the IBM Manual "z/OS V1R12.0 MVS JCL Reference (SA22-7597-14)" although there might be tools or programs which are able to allocate such files.
XCOM supports all files which are allocated by using ISPF-Option 3.2 or by any JCL following the guidelines of the JCL Reference.