Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF)
User’s Guide
OS/390 Version 2 Release 5.0
SC28-1239-02
IBM
Note
Before using this document, read the general information under “Notices” on page xxiii.
Third Edition (March 1998)
This edition applies to ISPF for Version 2 Release 5 of the licensed program OS/390 (program number 5647-A01)
and to all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new editions. Make sure you are using
the correct edition for the level of the product.
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A form for comments appears at the back of this publication. If the form has been removed, and you have
ISPF-specific comments, address your comments to:
International Business Machines Corporation
Attn: Information Development
Department T99 / Building 062
P.O. Box 12195
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2195
FAX (United States & Canada): 1+919+254-0206
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If you have OS/390 - specific comments, address them to:
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to frequently asked questions, demonstration code, and more. The URL for the site is:
http://www.software.ibm.com/ad/ispf
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© Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 1980, 1998. All rights reserved.
Note to U.S. Government Users — Documentation related to restricted rights — Use, duplication or disclosure is
subject to restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.
Contents
Figures ...........................xiii
Tables ...........................xxi
Notices ...........................xxiii
Programming Interface Information .................xxiii
Trademarks..........................xxiii
Preface ...........................xxv
About This Book ........................xxv
Who Should Use This Book ....................xxv
What Is in This Book ......................xxv
Summary of Changes .....................xxix
ISPF Product Changes .....................xxix
ISPF DM Component Changes ..................xxix
ISPF PDF Component Changes ..................xxx
ISPF SCLM Component Changes .................xxx
ISPF Client/Server Component Changes ...............xxx
VisualAge for ISPF .......................xxxi
ISPF Migration Considerations ...................xxxi
ISPF Profiles ........................xxxi
KEYLIST Command .....................xxxi
GUI Window ........................xxxi
Configuration Table ......................xxxii
Year 2000 Support for ISPF ...................xxxii
What’s in the OS/390 V2R5.0 ISPF library? .............xxxv
OS/390 V2R5.0 ISPF ......................xxxv
Related Publications ......................xxxv
COBOL Structuring Facility ...................xxxv
CSP/AD and CSP/AE (Release 3.3)................xxxvi
Cross System Product/370 Application Development* (Release 4.1) ....xxxvi
Information/Management ....................xxxvi
MVS/ESA .........................xxxvi
MVS/TSO.........................xxxvi
SCRIPT/VS.........................xxxvii
C Compiler .........................xxxvii
VisualAge .........................xxxvii
VS COBOL II ........................xxxvii
VS Fortran .........................xxxvii
Common User Access .....................xxxvii
Elements and Features in OS/390 .................xxxix
Part 1. Introduction to ISPF ......................... 1
Chapter 1. The ISPF User Interface ................ 5
The ISPF User Interface ..................... 5
Some Terms You Should Know ................. 5
How to Navigate in ISPF without Using Action Bars .......... 6
How to Navigate in ISPF Using the Action Bar Interface ........ 6
Command Nesting ......................12
© Copyright IBM Corp. 1980, 1998 iii
ISPF Client/Server -- The Workstation Agent Component .........13
Why Use ISPF Client/Server? ..................13
Starting a GUI Session ....................13
What GUI Mode Looks Like ...................14
ISPF GUI Support of TSO Line Mode Output and Input .........20
Restrictions for the TSO GUI Line Mode Support ...........22
Bi-directional Language Support .................23
Sample Screens .......................26
Some General GUI Restrictions .................28
Details for Dialog Developers Writing GUI Panels ...........29
The ISPF Workstation Tool Integration Program ............34
Starting the Tool Integration Dialog ................35
The Tool Integrator Action Bar Choices...............36
Updating an Action ......................37
Extension Mapping ......................38
Chapter 2. Overview of ISPF ...................41
ISPF Functions ........................41
View, Browse, Edit, Edit Macros, and Models ............41
Dialog Services .......................42
Utilities ..........................42
Dialog Test, Foreground, and Batch ................42
TSO Commands, CLISTs, and REXX EXECs ............42
Library Management Facility ..................43
Software Configuration and Library Manager ............43
Other IBM Program Development Products .............43
Primer and Online Tutorial ...................43
Recursive ISPF ........................43
Supported Data Types ......................44
Member Name Conventions...................44
Interacting with ISPF ......................45
Starting ISPF .........................45
Option Selection ........................45
ISPF Primary Options .....................46
Status Area on the Primary Option Menu ...............49
Status Pull-Down.......................50
Status Area Choice ......................57
Understanding ISPF Panels ....................58
Panel Format ........................58
Panel Types ........................60
Entering Commands in ISPF ...................61
Types of Commands .....................61
ISPF Command Syntax Notation .................62
Getting Help .........................64
Ending an ISPF Function or ISPF .................64
Exit Option (X)........................65
Jump Function........................65
User Profiles .........................65
Splitting the Screen Horizontally or Vertically .............66
The SPLIT Command .....................66
The SWAP Command .....................67
3290 Terminals .......................68
National Language Support ....................69
Chapter 3. Using Referral Lists ..................71
Referral List Modes .......................72
iv OS/390 V2R5.0 ISPF User’s Guide
Shared Referral Lists ......................73
Reference Data Set List .....................73
Reference Data Set List Panel Action Bar Choices ..........74
Reference Library List ......................75
Reference Library List Panel Action Bar Choices ...........76
Personal Data Set List......................77
Personal Data Set List Panel Action Bar Choices ...........78
How to Create a Personal Data Set List ..............80
How to Get a List of Your Personal Data Set Lists ..........81
Personal Library List ......................84
Personal Library List Panel Action Bar Choices............84
How to Create a Personal Library List ...............86
How to Get a List of Your Personal Library Lists ...........86
Command Interface (Fast Path) to the Referral List Function........89
Using Function Keys with Referral Lists ...............90
Example of an ISPF Panel That Uses a Referral List ..........91
Chapter 4. Using Commands, Function Keys, and Light Pen or Cursor
Selection .........................93
ISPF System Commands.....................94
Using the RETRIEVE, RETF, and RETP Commands .........111
Using the RETURN Command..................113
Using the Jump Function ....................114
Using the Scrolling Commands .................115
Using Command Tables to Define Commands ............117
SELECT Action Commands Temporarily Invoke a New Dialog ......118
Assigning Command Aliases ..................119
Overriding System Commands..................121
Passing Commands to a Dialog Function ..............121
Specifying Command Actions Dynamically .............122
Using a Function Key ......................123
Defining Function Key Values ..................124
Changing the Format of the Function Key Area............125
Saving Function Key Definitions .................127
Using the Light Pen and Cursor-Select Key .............128
How Program Access (PA) Keys Affect ISPF Operation.........129
Chapter 5. Libraries and Data Sets ................131
Naming ISPF Libraries and Data Sets ................131
ISPF Library Names .....................131
Other Partitioned or Sequential Data Set Names ...........132
Volume Serials .......................133
Library Concatenation .....................133
Using Member Selection Lists ..................136
Data Set Passwords .....................152
Format Definitions ......................152
Mixed Mode ........................153
Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE)...............154
Packed Data Sets ......................154
List and Log Data Sets ....................154
Foreground and Batch Output Listings ...............161
Other Temporary Data Sets ...................161
Job Statement Information ...................162
Running a Sample ISPF Session .................163
Chapter 6. Getting Ready to Run on MVS..............169
Contents v
