Default Values

ISMF provides default values for most required fields when performing functions against Data Set and Volume Applications. ISMF supplies the default value for a field on a data entry panel when you blank the field. When you press ENTER, ISMF redisplays the panel with the default values and the short message DEFAULT PRIMING DONE.

For example, if you want to compress a data set that is not passwordprotected, you can use the default values for the COMPRESS line operator. When you enter the COMPRESS line operator on a data set list, ISMF displays the COMPRESS Entry Panel primed with the name of the data set you want to compress and the values from the last time you used the line operator, as shown in Figure 1.

  Panel  Utilities  Help                                                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             COMPRESS ENTRY PANEL           
Command ===>                                                                  
                                                                              
Optionally Specify one or more for                                            
 Data Set: USER7.ACS.LIBRARY                                                  
                                                                              
  To Control obtaining access to Data Set, Specify:                           
    Maximum Number of Retries  . . . . . . 2        (0 to 99)                 
    Number of Seconds between Retries  . . 2        (0 to 255)                
    Serialize with Dynamic Allocation  . . N        (Y or N)                  
                                                                              
  For Password Protected Data Set, Specify:                                   
    Data Set Password  . . . .                      (password or blanks)      
                                                                              
  DFSMSdss Administrator Mode  . . N  (Y or N)                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
Use ENTER to Perform COMPRESS;                                                
Use HELP Command for Help; Use END Command to Exit.                           

To see the default values, blank out the fields on the COMPRESS Entry Panel and press ENTER. ISMF displays the COMPRESS Entry Panel primed with the default values, as shown in Figure 2.

  Panel  Utilities  Help                                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             COMPRESS ENTRY PANEL         DEFAULT PRIMING DONE 
Command ===>                                                                   
                                                                               
Optionally Specify one or more for                                             
 Data Set: USER7.ACS.LIBRARY                                                   
                                                                               
  To Control obtaining access to Data Set, Specify:                            
    Maximum Number of Retries  . . . . . . 8        (0 to 99)                  
    Number of Seconds between Retries  . . 8        (0 to 255)                 
    Serialize with Dynamic Allocation  . . N        (Y or N)                   
                                                                               
  For Password Protected Data Set, Specify:                                    
    Data Set Password  . . . .                      (password or blanks)       
                                                                               
  DFSMSdss Administrator Mode  . . N  (Y or N)                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
Use ENTER to Perform COMPRESS;                                                 
Use HELP Command for Help; Use END Command to Exit.                            

When you install ISMF, you can accept the defaults ISMF supplies, or you can customize them to suit your installation or personal needs. For information on changing default values, refer to z/OS DFSMS Installation Exits.

Fields Primed with Last-Used Values

ISMF saves the values you enter on data entry panels between each use of the panel, and from one session to the next. When you choose an option on a selection panel or enter a line operator or list command, the data entry panel ISMF displays will appear with values filled in from the last time you used the function. This is called priming. Password fields are also primed but only for one session. These fields appear blank because they are masked for security.

For repetitive tasks, where the values you enter are consistently the same, priming helps avoid errors and saves time. For example, when you use the DELETE line operator, you may always choose to delete a data set even if it has not reached its expiration date. When ISMF displays a data entry panel, you can accept the primed values by pressing the ENTER key. If the data entry panel has more than one page, you may want to scroll through all the pages to verify the primed values.

To alter the primed values, enter new values in any of the fields on the data entry panel. If you supply new values, these values are used to prime the data entry panel the next time you use it.

Entering Values on Data Entry Panels

The values you enter on data entry panels determine the way ISMF performs a specific task. ISMF data entry panels are just like ISPF data entry panels.On each data entry panel, input fields are preceded by an input arrow (===>). Output fields are preceded by a colon (:). Some of the fields are required and others are optional. If you fail to complete a required field, or enter an invalid value, ISMF prompts you with a short error message. ISMF Data Entry Panels may have several pages.

For the Data Set Application, depending on the type of data set you use, you may not be able to display all the options and specify values. ISMF automatically bypasses the pages that do not apply to the data set type you are using. For example, if you are trying to delete a data set that has not been backed up, ISMF displays an entry panel that does not include the option to delete the backup copy.

Figure 3 shows a data entry panel displayed when you enter the DELETE line operator on a data set list. The name of the data set you want to delete appears on the panel along with any additional instructions. The example shows how you can instruct ISMF to delete a data set and its DFSMShsm backup versions even if the retention period for the data set has not expired.

  Panel  Utilities  Help
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              DELETE ENTRY PANEL
Command ===>

Optionally Specify one or more to Uncatalog and Delete
  Data Set: USER10.ISPPROF

  Enter "/" to select option   /  Scratch Data Set

                               /  Clear Data Set with Zeroes

                                  Delete even if Unexpired

  Data Set Password  . . . . .           (if password protected)







Use ENTER to Perform DELETE;
Use HELP Command for Help; Use END Command to Exit.

Moving through Data Entry Panels

Like other types of ISMF panels, data entry panels may consist of more than one page. The scroll commands UP and DOWN allow you to move through them. Press the ENTER key to perform the function. The END command takes you back to the list panel or to a selection panel without saving the values entered on the panel. If you enter the END command on a data entry panel for a list command or line operator, ISMF returns to the list. If you enter the END command on a data entry panel that was displayed from a selection panel (the ISMF Profile Option Menu, for example), ISMF returns to the associated selection panel.

Data entry panels are structured to provide a fast path for most of the line operators and list commands. The other pages are grouped so that related values are shown together. The pages you complete vary with each task you perform; the values you enter on the first page of the panel determine the sequence and number of additional pages ISMF displays. Furthermore, after completing the first page of a panel, you often have the option of bypassing the optional fields on the other pages. This saves you the time it takes to display options that are not applicable to the specific task you want to perform.

For example, when you use the DUMP line operator during a Data Set Application, you might look at all seven pages of the entry panel. Figure 4 is the first page.

   Panel  Utilities  Help
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                DUMP ENTRY PANEL                    Page 1 of 7
 Command ===>

 Specify one or more for
   Data Set: USER10.SPFLOG1.LIST
   Output DSN . . . DUMP.OUT
   If Output Data Set is New or Not Cataloged, Specify:
     Volume Count   ===>
     Output Volumes ===>            ===>          ===>          ===>
     Output Volumes ===>            ===>          ===>          ===>
     Output Volumes ===>            ===>          ===>          ===>
     Unit           ===>
   Number of Copies . . . . . . . . 1         (1 to 5 copies)
   Output Media Type  . . . . . . . TAPE      (TAPE or DASD)
   Type of Dump . . . . . . . . . . 1         (1 LOGICAL, 2 PHYSICAL)
   Input Data Set Password  . . . .           (password or blanks)

   Enter "/" to select option     DFSMSdss Administrator Mode
                               /  View or Change Current Allocation Values
                               /  View or Change Additional Dump Options
 Use ENTER to Continue;
 Use HELP Command for Help; Use END Command to Exit.

How Input Errors on a Data Entry Panel Are Handled

The information on a data entry panel is not processed until the input fields on the panel are completed correctly. If there is an error, ISMF points to it, prompting you to supply the correct information.

ISMF uses short and long error messages to indicate input errors on data entry panels. When there is an input error (for example, a required field left blank, or a field incorrectly specified), a short error message appears in the upper right corner, and the cursor is positioned at the beginning of the field containing the error. The short message briefly describes the error. If the short message does not give you enough information to correct the error, you can use the HELP command to display the long error message. Specifying HELP again displays the help panel associated with the error message, or, in some cases, the help panel associated with the data entry panel. The help panel gives you more information to help you complete the data entry panel.

You can display a record of error tracing by entering the ERTB command. This command can be issued from any ISMF application and it results in the display of the ISMF Error Table.

The display panel consists of a command line, the address of the error table, and the current entry address of the ERTB. The error can be found in the ISPF log data. The ERTB entry will be gone when you exit the ISMF application, but the ISPF log will remain. You can enter DOWN or UP on the command line to look at previous and subsequent entries. Figure 5 is an example of the ERTB.

   Panel  Help
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            ISMF ERROR TABLE DISPLAY

 ISMF Ertb Address . . : 0227A1BC                             User : USER10
 Error Entry Address . : 0227A420                             Date : 05/07/05
 Last Panel Displayed  : DGTLGP11                             Time : 14:02:00
 Entry :
 ----------------------    Entry :
 Module Name: DGTFFN02     ----------------------     Entry :
 Proc Name  : F2FOFIND     Module Name : DGTFARP2     ------------------------
 Return Code: 0008         Proc Name . : DGTFARP2     Module Name: DGTFED02
 Reason Code: 0320         Return Code : 0008         Proc Name  : EDITDS
 Short Msg  :              Reason Code : 0696         Return Code: 0012
 Long Msg . :              Short Msg . :              Reason Code: 0345
 Service  . : DGTEFOFI     Long Msg  . :              Short Msg  : DGTED001
 Feedback . : FIND 14      Service . . : TBSKIP       Long Msg . : DGTED001
                           Feedback  . :              Service  . : EDIT
                                                      Feedback . : MSGID(ISRD03



 Use ENTER to Review Displayed Entries; Use UP/DOWN Command for other En
 Use HELP Command for Help; Use END Command to Exit.

If your ISMF profile has been used to set up an automatic display of the ERTB, every log record matching the values specified in the profile generates an ERTB display. In some cases, ISMF may detect, log, and display more than one record per error. It may seem that ISMF redisplays the same entry over and over, but the Module or Proc name and the entry address indicate that the entries are distinct. The rightmost entry is the most recent entry.