You can exclude lines from a data set using the X (exclude) line command as well as the EXCLUDE primary command.

When you are editing a program that exceeds the screen size, it can be difficult to determine whether the control structure and indentation levels are correct. Excluding lines allows you to remove one line or a block of lines from the display so that you can see the general control structure. Each block of excluded lines is replaced by a single line containing a message in the form "n Line(s) not Displayed". Excluded lines are treated as valid data lines. They are excluded from the display, but are not deleted from the data.

The X line command can be entered in these ways:

X
Xn
XX

The first two forms allow you to exclude one line or a specified number of lines.

The third form allows you to exclude a block by typing XX on the first and last lines of the block of lines that you want to exclude. The first and last lines do not need to be on the same page; after typing the first XX you can scroll to the second XX.

You can enter any line command that usually operates on a single line in the line command field of the excluded lines message. For example, if you enter the D (delete) line command, the complete block of excluded lines is deleted.