Referencing prior step output DSN without hardcoding

Step 1 creates &&TEMP. Step 3 needs to read what step 2 wrote to a cataloged dataset whose name includes the job date.

Is referback (*.STEP2.DDNAME) still the clean approach, or do people pass names through SET symbols now?

Referback for true temp passes. For cataloged dated names we SET a symbol at the top (or resolve in a prior REXX/IDCAMS step) and reuse &DSN everywhere. Easier to restart.

Agree. Referback across too many steps gets brittle when someone inserts a step in the middle.