A sequential file contains the records D, E, F, C, and A. In the mainframe File-AID utility, how can you copy only the D and A records from this file into a new dataset?

Introduction / Context:
On IBM mainframe systems, File-AID is a widely used utility for browsing, editing, and copying datasets such as VSAM files and flat sequential files. A common interview or practical question is how to copy only selected records from a file, for example records identified by particular keys or field values. Knowing how to apply selection criteria in File-AID demonstrates familiarity with batch utilities and data manipulation on z/OS.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We have a sequential file that contains records logically identified as D, E, F, C, and A.
• We want to copy only records D and A to a new file using File-AID, leaving out E, F, and C.
• File-AID provides copy and browse functions with selection criteria capability.

Concept / Approach:
File-AID allows you to specify INCLUDE and EXCLUDE criteria when copying or browsing datasets. These criteria are defined in terms of field positions, lengths, and values based on the layout or on simple byte offsets. To copy only specific records, you identify the field that carries the record type or key (for example a one character code that can be D, E, F, C, or A) and then use selection criteria to include only rows where this field equals D or A. File-AID then processes the input dataset and writes only the matching records to the output dataset.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Determine which field or position in each record uniquely identifies the record type (for example, the first character of each record may be D, E, F, C, or A). Step 2: Invoke File-AID copy or browse function and specify the input dataset that contains the records. Step 3: Define selection criteria using the File-AID selection panel or control cards, such as an INCLUDE statement where the record type field equals 'D' or equals 'A'. Step 4: Specify the output dataset that should receive the selected records. Step 5: Execute the File-AID copy job; only records that satisfy the selection criteria (D and A) are written to the new dataset, while records E, F, and C are skipped.

Verification / Alternative check:
After running the File-AID copy with selection criteria, you can browse the output dataset to confirm that it contains only the desired records D and A. If the selection criteria were defined correctly, no other record types will appear. If an unwanted record appears, it usually means the field positions or values in the criteria were mis-specified. You can also compare record counts using ISPF or other utilities to ensure only two records were copied from the original set of five.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is incorrect because although manual editing is possible, it is inefficient and unnecessary when File-AID already supports selection based copy operations. Option C is wrong because a standard SORT utility without control cards has no instructions on how to filter records and cannot guess which ones you want; sort control statements are always required. Option D is incorrect because File-AID works directly with datasets and VSAM files and does not require conversion to DB2 tables in order to perform record level selection and copy operations.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is specifying the wrong field position or length in the selection criteria, which leads to either zero records or too many records being copied. Another issue is forgetting that character comparison is case sensitive in many configurations, so matching 'd' instead of 'D' will fail. It is also easy to mix up INCLUDE and EXCLUDE logic, which can invert the selection unintentionally. Careful review of the record layout and testing selection criteria on a small sample of data helps avoid these problems when using File-AID to copy selected records.

Final Answer:
To copy only D and A records from the file, use File-AID copy or browse with selection criteria (INCLUDE statements) that reference the record type field and specify values D and A, so that only those records are written to the new dataset.