>i have tried the 'aff' parameter in the unit field of the filename statement but > get a sas error and rc=8. can anyone help me get the dynamic file >allocation to sequentially allocate file reads from the same tape device ?? >thanks, >lewis

There is an INFILE option which allows to set the data set name at open time. I think this is equivalent to an JFCB open exit. As far as I remember, the syntax is: INFILE xxx filename=variable; Before the INFILE is executed, you set the variable to the desired name. Maybe this feature is only available under MVS and so only documented in the MVS manual. Jens