ISPF- Tips and Tricks

Once you know the basics, a handful of habits separate a slow ISPF user from a fast one. These are the tricks working mainframers actually use every day.

Command stacking with the semicolon

You can run several commands at once by separating them with a semicolon. ISPF runs them left to right.

• Stacking works on Option ===> lines and on most Command ===> lines.
• A favorite: =3.4 to jump to Dslist from anywhere (see below).

The jump function: =option

• Typing = followed by an option path jumps straight there, skipping the menus in between. =3.4 goes directly to the dataset list utility from any panel.
• =2 jumps to the edit entry panel, =S jumps to SDSF, =6 jumps to the TSO command shell.
• To go back where you came from after a jump, press PF3 repeatedly or use =X logic: the jump bypasses the normal panel stack, so get into the habit of jumping rather than backing out.
• Field prompts that end with ===> always accept the jump function. Prompts with leader dots may need the jump setting enabled in option 0.

Split screen: two sessions at once

• Press PF2 (Split) to divide the screen. The new half starts at the primary option menu; navigate it anywhere you like.
• Press PF9 (Swap) to move your cursor between the two halves.
• Typical combo: edit JCL in one half, watch the job in SDSF in the other.
• Press PF3 in a half until it shows the primary menu, then type X to close that half.

Retrieve your last commands

• PF12 (Retrieve) pulls back the last command you typed on a command line. Keep pressing it to walk further back through your command history.
• Faster than retyping long dataset names or repeated FIND strings.

Personal defaults in option 0

• Option 0 (Settings) stores your personal ISPF defaults: PF key definitions, terminal type, screen format, and log/list dataset handling.
• Set Command line at bottom vs top, whichever you prefer; the setting sticks across sessions.
• Review your PF key list (option 0, then the PF key option) and reassign keys you never use to commands you type often, for example a key for =3.4.
• Turn on the print/panel display settings you like once instead of fighting defaults every session.

TSO commands without leaving ISPF

• Option 6 is a TSO command shell inside ISPF. Type any TSO command there, for example LISTCAT or TIME.
• Prefix any panel command line with TSO to run one TSO command inline, for example TSO SUBMIT 'USER01.JCL.CNTL(JOB1)'.
• In the editor, type SUBMIT on the command line to submit the member you are editing as a batch job.

Reference lists and DSLIST patterns

• ISPF keeps reference lists of datasets you recently used. On dataset name fields, press the Reflist key or use the Reflist pull-down to pick from history instead of retyping.
• In 3.4, save your best Dsname Level patterns: your userid alone lists everything you own; USER01.*.CNTL finds all your JCL libraries.
• Use * as a wildcard inside qualifiers, not just at the end: USER01.PAY*.DATA works.

Safety habits

• Open datasets in View (option 1) when you only want to look. You cannot accidentally save changes in View.
• Keep RECOVERY ON in your edit profile so an abnormal session end offers to restore your unsaved edits.
• Before a big CHANGE ALL, do a FIND ALL first to see exactly how many hits you will change.