# GDG Generation

**GDG GENERATION**

A generation is an individual dataset that belongs to a Generation Data Group (GDG).

Each time you create a new version of the same kind of data (for example, a daily report or a backup file) it becomes a new generation within the GDG

Generations are automatically named by the system with a generation number and a version number at the end like:
\
MYDATA.BACKUP.REPORT.G0001V00, MYDATA.BACKUP.REPORT.G0002V00

All generations share the same GDG base name (MYDATA.BACKUP.REPORT in this example) but have different unique suffixes (GxxxxVxx)

If you run a backup job every night, each night's backup will be stored as a new generation under the same GDG base

**EXAMPLE**

```
//CRTEGEN   JOB (12345),CLASS=A,MSGCLASS=X,NOTIFY=&SYSUID
//STEP1     EXEC PGM=IEFBR14
//MYGDG     DD   DSN=MYDATA.BACKUP.REPORT(+1),
//               DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
//               SPACE=(CYL,(1,1),RLSE),
//               UNIT=SYSDA,
//               DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800,DSORG=PS)
```

**Explanation:**

* **JOB Statement:**\
  Starts the job named CRTEGEN.
* **EXEC Statement:**\
  Runs the IEFBR14 utility to create a dataset without doing any processing.
* **DD Statement:**
  * DSN=MYDATA.BACKUP. REPORT(+1):\
    Creates a new generation under the GDG base(MYDATA.BACKUP.REPORT). (+1) means "next generation" or "new generation"
  * DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE):\
    Creates and catalogs the dataset if successful, deletes it if the job fails.
  * SPACE=(CYL,(1,1),RLSE):\
    Allocates 1 cylinder initially and 1 cylinder as secondary.
  * UNIT=SYSDA:\
    Allocates on the default system storage device.
  * DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800,DSORG=PS):\
    Defines the dataset attributes: Fixed Block format, 80-byte record length, and it’s a sequential dataset.


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