# Viewing GDGs and GDSs

If you are connected to a z/OS system that contains GDGs, these files appear under the MVS Files node of the Remote Systems view.

Before you begin
You need to be connected to a z/OS system with GDG resources.
About this task
In the Remote Systems view, a GDG is shown as a folder that contains GDSs. A GDS can be a sequential or a partitioned data set. The name of each GDS in a GDG consists of the GDG name followed by the absolute generation and version numbers. The generation and version numbers are in the form GxxxxVyy, where xxxx is an unsigned 4-digit decimal generation number (0001 through 9999) and yy is an unsigned 2-digit decimal version number (00 through 99). In the following illustration, MASA.GDG01.G0001V00 is a GDS of generation 1, version 0 in a GDG named MASA.GDG01.

A GDS can also be accessed using the GDG name followed by a relative generation number. The current generation is represented by 0, the previous generation by -1, and so on. You use +n to allocate a new generation. The allocated generation number is the current generation + n. The relative generation number does not count skipped generations. If a GDG contains GDSs A.B.C.G0001V00 and A.B.C.G0003V00, A.B.C.G0001V00 is A.B.C(-1) and A.B.C.G0003V00 is A.B.C(0).

In the Remote Systems view, a GDS in a GDG is represented by the absolute generation and version numbers followed by the relative generation number. This order can be changed by a preference setting to the relative generation number followed by the absolute generation and version numbers. They are shown in the order of the newest generation to the oldest. The succeeding relative generation number or the absolute generation and version numbers is a label decoration, that can be disabled by a preference setting.

Parent topic: Viewing and working with generation data groups