ISPF Environment

1. How do I create multiple instances of ISPF sessions?

A. Use PDF command from the TSO panel, which will initiate a
new ISPF session, Type =x to comeback to previous ISPF session.
You can also type 'start' to initiate a new ISPF session, in this case
you have to swap to go to the other session. You can have as many
as 6 sessions open.( This command is installation specific)

2. I want to clear off the PF keys that are shown at the bottom of
my ISPF panels.

A. Use command PFSHOW OFF on command line. If you want to

turn it on, issue PFSHOW ON.

3. I typed / before pressing some PFkey and this takes me to

some other session

A. Character / is used as a jump character for going to TPX

screen in most of the installations. Therefore typing / preceded by a
PFkey is as good as going to TPX main menu and going to the
corresponding session.

4. How do I see someone elses jobs in IOF/SDSF?

A. In IOF menu give 'userid' in SCOPE field. In SDF you may have
to type u xxxxx where xxxxx is the id or some other option will be
available.

5. How do I compare a specific column in two files on ISPF?

A. Go to Option 3.13 (SUPERCE) and type 'edit'. You can give

your compare options here. Also, you can specify many other options
such as treat certain records as comments etc.

6. How do I recover a Dataset I deleted by mistake, or maybe

overwrote?
A. Use the TSO command HRECOVER, youll have to mention the
generation or date of the backup you want restored. You can restore
it to a new dataset. Usually, HRECOVER option can be found in
HSM utility panel.

7. How do you allocate a file similar to existing production file

thought a job?

A. Specify production file as Model dataset. If you want to allocate

a file similar to another file you can use the LIKE command and
override any DCB parameter that you want different in your file.

8. How do I create a sequential file from VSAM file?

A. Use IDCAMS utility with the repro command. You can create a
VSAM from a sequential file: the only condition is the sequential file
should be sorted on the key fields.

9. How do I compare VSAM datasets?

A. Use either compare option in file-aid or comparex utility or

data-xpert utility.

10. How do I know which version of Cobol compiler I am using?

A. Look at the first line of your compilation listing

11. How do I find out which base cluster does an alternate index file
belong to?

A. Display information in file aid for the '.PATH' file which will show
the base cluster as well as corresponding alt index file.

12. If I am using 3.4 and try to create a new member in an empty

PDS, I cant ?

A. Use option 2 and the new member name.

13. I got a B37 abend when tried to save the file.

A. Your PDS is out of space. Start another session open this PDS
in 3.4 and put a z next to it. It will compress the PDS. All x37 abends
are out of space situations.

14. I got an error message NO SPACE IN DIRECTORY while

creating a member in PDS.

A. Your PDS can no longer accommodate more members in it.

You need to increase the Directory blocks. Each directory block can
hold at least 4 members.

15. I want to copy only the first 500 records of my file.

A. Use file-aid or dataexpert and give the number of records in the

option.

16. The dataset I want is migrated, but I dont want my screen to be

frozen when I recall it.

A. Type HRECALL next to the dataset name in 3.4

17. I want to send a message to another person logged on to TSO

A. Say TSO SEND message line U(user_id). If the person in not

logged on but you want to send a message which he can read when
he logs on say TSO SEND message line U(user_id) LOGON

18. I want to see the LIMIT of a GDG.

A. Use LISTCAT in TSO or File-Aid option 3.2

19. I want to know the % free and other statistics of my dataset.

A. If you press right or PF11 on your 3.4 listing you can see the
dataset statistics or use option 3.1 and I

20. I keep using certain commands that I want to save.

A. The commands you use regularly can be saved as a function

key. E.g. - if you often change a JCL, save it, submit it and then go to
the job spool. You could save a PF key as save; sub; =IOF . To do
this type KEYS on command line and make the necessary entries.

21. I am not able to delete a dataset that resides on a tape.

A. Yes. You cannot delete/rename a tape dataset. Only you can

uncatalog it.

ISPF Editor

22. How do I see only those lines that contain a particular string?

A. Type X all then F all search-string

23. Now I want to see only those lines that contain a particular value
in the display I get after doing an X all, F all.

A. Type F new_value all nx. nx will restrict the search only to the
displayed lines.

24. How do I go to a particular line numbers ?

A. Use L search-string command. This is the Label command.

25. I want to find for a search-string that is Not prefix/suffix of

another word. I want to find for an instance of a search-string that is
whole word by itself. How can I do this?

A. Use keyword word at the end of find command. E.g., f job

word will find for the whole word job.

26. How do I specify the direction of search i.e., how do I search for
a string in backward / forward direction (w.r.t., your current cursor
position)?

A.

Direction
Keyword

Example

Backward

PREV

F job PREV finds for string job in backward direction

Forward

No need to mention any keyword. Its default direction

F job finds for string job in forward direction.

From the beginning of the file

FIRST

F job FIRST finds the first instance of sting job in the file.

Count of all instances in file

ALL

F job FIRST finds the first instance of sting job in the file and gives
total-no-of-instances of sting job in the file.

27. How do I search for a value say '0980312' stored in comp-3

format?

A. Type F X0980312.

28. How do I do case sensitive search find for a given search-string?

A. Just, enclose the search-string within quotes and have a letter C
in front of the string itself. For e.g., F CFindMe will find all FindMe
strings only if the case matches.

29. How do I find for any non-blank characters?

A. Use picture string ^. E.g., F P^ 36 will find the next non-

blank characters in column 36.

30. How do I find for any numeric character?

A. Use picture string #. E.g.,1. F p# finds the next numeric

character. 2. F PAGE ## will find the next instance of the string
page followed by a blank followed by 2 numeric characters.

31. How do I find for any non-numeric character?

A. Use picture string -.

32. How do I find for any alphabetic character?

A. Use picture string @.

33. How do I find for any uppercase alphabetic character?

A. Use picture string >.

34. How do I find for any lowercase alphabetic character?

A. Use picture string <.

35. How do I find for any non-display character?

A. Use picture string . E.g., f p. finds the next instance of non-

display character.

36. How can I split a line in ISPF editor?

A. Key in TS in columns 1-6, position cursor at a point from where
you want to split the line and press ENTER. This will result in splitting
the line: the contents of line from where the cursor is positioned goes
to the next line and the remaining portion will be retained in that line
itself.

---TS--- This is first portion. Its been split here.

^ Cursor is placed here.

Upon hitting ENTER, it splits into 2 lines as below:

-------- This is first portion.

-------- Its been split here. next line

37. How do I join 2 lines?

A. You can do this by using overlay command. For e.g.,

-------- This is line-1.

-------- This is line-2.

Say, you want to join these 2 lines. First, you need to move the 2nd
line to the position from where you need to join it in the first line.
Then, key in M in columns 1-6 of 2nd line and O in columns 1-6 of
1st line.

----O--- This is line-1.

----M--- This is line-2.

Upon hitting ENTER, line-2 joins line-1.

-------- This is line-1. This is line-2.

NOTE: If you key in C instead of M in the 2nd line, it joins the 2nd line
to the first line and also retains the 2nd line.

38. How do I see the value of the field stored in comp-3 format?

A. Type HEX ON and go to the location of the field and get the
value from the two lines displayed below it.

39. How do I get rid of the 4 to 5 message lines displayed at the

beginning of the file in ISPF edit?

A. Use RESET command.

40. How do I stop the standard numbers on Col 73-80 in the ISPF
editor?

A. Type NUM OFF. Some Clients use Col 73-80 to mark their
changes, in that case you HAVE to have NUM OFF as the option.

41. How do I make columns 1-6 disappear from my ISPF editor

screen?

A. Type 'NUM ON COB. These are the COBOL numbers

columns and the screen display will be from Col 9-80.

42. How do I make the numbers on Col 1-6 contiguous, i.e., the
COBOL numbers

A. Type 'RENUM'. ISPF sometimes recommends you to do this.

You can ignore it.

43. How do I replace a particular value in a particular column with a

constant value?

A. Type c from_value to_value 6 all. If you want this change in a

particular range of rows, youll have to block the rows with xx and
say c from_value to_value 6 x all. Here 6 is the column number.

44. I want to copy a block of records from one dataset to another.

A. Block the records and type CUT at the command line. Open
the other dataset in edit mode and type PASTE at the command line
and type a or b on the row after / before which you want these
records.

45. I have a file of record length 240 and want to know in which
column the value I am looking at occurs.

A. Say cols on the Command line if in browse mode and in the

column command if in edit mode.

File-Aid

46. How do I get record length of a copybook?

A. Use File-aid option 8

47. File aid says insufficient memory?

A. Increase region size in TSO logon prompt.

48. Above option is tried but still complete file is not displayed.

A. Use initial records & skip options.

49. How do I overlay a field with a particular value for all the records
in a file?

A. Use file aid 3.6 option

50. I have multiple record layouts in the copybook. How do I select

the record layout of my choice for viewing the file in FileAid?

A. Type the command USE on command prompt which will show a

list of available record lay-outs and you can choose one from them.

51. How do I make file-aid select different record layouts

automatically depending upon data content?
A. Use XREF which allows you to specify what rec lay-out to use
under which conditions.

52. In file-aid if I am viewing a file in the formatted mode, how to I go

to a particular field?

A. Type L field_name.