Rules for entering line commands

Enter a line command by performing one of these actions:

Typing the command in the line command field and pressing Enter.
Placing the cursor in the data or line command field and pressing a function key to which the command is assigned.

These rules apply to all line commands:

You can type several line commands and make multiple data changes before you press Enter. The editor displays an error message if the line command is ambiguous. Because the line commands are processed from top to bottom, it is possible to have one error message appear that masks a later error condition. Only the first error condition found is displayed. After you have corrected that error condition, processing can continue and the next error condition, if any, is displayed. If you type a line command incorrectly, you can replace it before you press Enter by retyping it, blanking it out, or entering RESET.
Generally, you need to type over only the first 1 or 2 characters of the line number to enter a line command. Sometimes, however, typing a single character can be ambiguous. In this example, it is unclear whether the intended line command is R to repeat line 31700, or R3 to repeat the line three times:
```
031600
R31700
031800
```
In such cases, the ISPF editor assumes that you have not typed a number following the line command. If you want to repeat the line three times, you can use any of these procedures:
- Leave the cursor on the character that immediately follows the R3:
```
R31700
```
- Type one or more blanks following the R3:
```
R3 700
```
- Type one or more blanks following the R but before the number, leaving the cursor on the character that immediately follows the 3:
```
R 3700
```
- Type R3 and press the Erase EOF key to clear the rest of the line command field, or press the Erase EOF key and then type R3
You can type these line commands on the TOP OF DATA line by typing over the asterisks that appear in its line command field:
I, In

Insert one or n lines ahead of the data.

A, An

Move or copy a line or lines one or n times ahead of the data.

TE, TEn

Type one or n text lines ahead of the data.
You can type this line command on the BOTTOM OF DATA line by typing over the asterisks:
B, Bn

Move or copy a line or lines one or n times following the data.