There are three types of ISMF help panels:
- Help panels for functional panels
These help panels describe
the data attributes of the output panel currently displayed, or the
data entry fields, commands, and line operators for the data entry
panel currently displayed. In general, they tell you how to interpret
output panels and how to complete a task from the data entry panels.
Help panels also give overviews of the different applications.
- Help panels for error messages
This type of help panel explains
error messages and informational messages encountered on an ISMF functional
panel.
- Help panel index
A Help Index is available from ISMF Help.
It explains the terms and attributes encountered on an ISMF functional
panel.
Tip: You can use the ISPF Help and ISPF Tutorial to get
additional information on how to use the panels. From an ISMF help
panel, use PF1 (Help) to get to an ISPF tutorial page, which lists
some of the navigation commands for ISMF help panels. To view the
complete tutorial, you can either create a second session using PF2
to split the screen or leave ISMF and use your current ISPF session
to run the tutorial.
Using Help Panels for Functional Panels
ISMF
help panels offer immediate online reference information to help you
interpret and complete the ISMF panels. ISMF HELP is similar to ISPF
HELP. Any time an ISMF panel is displayed, you can invoke HELP for
that panel by entering HELP on the command line or pressing
the associated PF key. You can also invoke help for a particular field
in a panel by placing the cursor in the field and pressing the PF
key.
Figure 1 shows
page 1 of the Data Set Selection Entry Panel. Enter the HELP command
(or use the associated PF key) on this panel.
Figure 1. Invoking Help Panel Defaults Utilities Scroll Help
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATA SET SELECTION ENTRY PANEL Page 1 of 5
Command ===>
For a Data Set List, Select Source of Generated List . . 2 (1 or 2)
1 Generate from a Saved List Query Name To
List Name . . Save or Retrieve
2 Generate a new list from criteria below
Data Set Name . . . **
Enter "/" to select option _ Generate Exclusive list
Specify Source of the new list . . 2 (1 - VTOC, 2 - Catalog)
1 Generate list from VTOC
Volume Serial Number . . . (fully or partially specified)
Storage Group Name . . . . (fully specified)
2 Generate list from Catalog
Catalog Name . . .
Volume Serial Number . . . (fully or partially specified)
Acquire Data from Volume . . . . . . . N (Y or N)
Acquire Data if DFSMShsm Migrated . . N (Y or N)
Use ENTER to Perform Selection; Use DOWN Command to View next Selection Panel;
Use HELP Command for Help; Use END Command to Exit.
When there is no error message, ISMF takes you to a panel
containing an overview of how the Data Set Selection Entry Panel works
(Figure 2). This panel lists specific entry
fields you can select for more information.
Figure 2. Example of Help MenuHELP--------------- DATA SET SELECTION FIELD DESCRIPTIONS -------------------
Command ===> 5
ISMF uses the information you provide on the five pages of the Data Set
Selection Entry Panel to choose the data sets to be included in the
data set list. The values you specify on page 1 tell ISMF which data
sets to look for and where to gather the information about each data
set so that it can be displayed in the data columns on the list panel.
Only DASD data sets or data sets originally allocated on DASD which have
been migrated on to tape are included in the list
Use ENTER to see the following topics in sequence, or choose them by number:
1 DATA SET SELECTION Overview 9 Generate list from VTOC:
2 For a Data Set List, Volume Serial Number
Select Source of Generated List 10 Generate list from VTOC:
3 List Name Storage Group Name
4 Query Name To Save or Retrieve 11 Generate list from Catalog
5 Data Set Name field defaults
6 Generate Exclusive list 12 Catalog Name
7 Specify Source of the new list 13 Volume Serial Number
VTOC 14 Acquire Data from Volume
8 Specify Source of the new list 15 Acquire Data if DFSMShsm
Catalog Migrated
Use ENTER to continue, END to exit Help.
Read the help panels in sequence by pressing the ENTER key.
Or read about a specific topic by entering its selection number on
the command line. For example, after typing in 5 on the help panel
in Figure 2, ISMF takes you to a panel explaining
the DATA SET NAME field (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Example
of HELP for a Specific Field HELP------ GENERATE A NEW LIST FROM CRITERIA BELOW - DATA SET NAME -----HELP
Command ===>
To select entries for the Data Set List, you must specify a value in the
DATA SET NAME field. You can specify a fully qualified name of up to 46
characters. You can also specify a partially qualified name:
* A single asterisk by itself indicates that either a qualifier or
one or more characters within a qualifier can occupy that position.
** A double asterisk indicates that zero or more qualifiers can occupy
that position. You will be prompted for a catalog name if:
1) you use asterisk notation with TSO prefix off, or
2) you use quoted asterisk notation regardless of TSO prefix.
% A single percent sign by itself indicates that exactly one
alphanumeric or national character can occupy that position.
%%... One to eight percent signs can be specified in each qualifier.
For example, the following values are valid for DATA SET NAME:
'SYS1.PARMLIB' MEMO.*LIB SYS*%.B*%%%%%.C
'SYS1.*' **.CLIST *
Use ENTER to continue, END to exit Help.
Use the END command to go back to the Data Set Selection
Entry Panel.
Use the UP command to go back to the
help menu and choose another topic.
Using Help Panels for Error Messages
ISMF
also provides HELP for the ISMF messages displayed on yourscreen.
When ISMF detects an error, you see a short error messagein
the upper right corner of the screen. For more information, use the
HELP command. ISMF displays a long error message that furtherdescribes
the problem. The long error message appears just below the command
line. If your ISPF user profile sets the command line to the bottom
of the screen, the long message appears just above the command line.
If
you invoke HELP again, ISMF displays a message help panel. This panel
contains both the short and long messages and suggests how to correct
the problem.
Figure 4 through Figure 6 shows this sequence when the command RSETORE
(instead of RESTORE) is entered on the command line of the Data Set
List panel in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Example of a Short Error
Message Panel List Dataset Utilities Scroll Help
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATA SET LIST INVALID COMMAND
Command ===> RSETORE SCROLL ===> DATA
Entries 1-7 of 7
Enter Line Operators Below: Data Columns 3-5 of 41
LINE ALLOC ALLOC % NOT
OPERATOR DATA SET NAME SPACE USED USED
---(1)---- ------------(2)------------ ---(3)--- ---(4)--- -(5)-
?RSETORE USER1.DEB.LISTING1 ------- ------- ---
USER1.ISMF.SYSIN.D880125. 46K 40K 13
T105441
USER1.ISPFILE 139K 93K 33
USER1.ISPPROF 185K 185K 0
USER1.SPFLOG1.LIST 371K 371K 0
USER1.SPFTEMP1.CNTL --------- --------- ---
USER1.SPF3.LIST 788K 788K 0
---------- ------ ----------- BOTTOM OF DATA ----------- ------ ----
The short message INVALID COMMAND appears
in the upper right corner indicating that ISMF did not recognize the
command.
Use the HELP command. ISMF displays the long message
shown on the third line of Figure 5.
Figure 5. Example
of a Long Error Message Panel List Dataset Utilities Scroll Help
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATA SET LIST INVALID COMMAND
Command ===> RSETORE SCROLL ===> DATA
COMMAND 'RSETORE' NOT FOUND OR CONTAINS INVALID SYNTAX.
Enter Line Operators Below: Data Columns 3-5 of 41
LINE ALLOC ALLOC % NOT
OPERATOR DATA SET NAME SPACE USED USED
---(1)---- ------------(2)------------ ---(3)--- ---(4)--– -(5)-
?RSETORE USER1.DEB.LISTING1 --–----–- --–----- ---
USER1.ISMF.SYSIN.D880125. 46K 40K 13
T105441
USER1.ISPFILE 139K 93K 33
USER1.ISPPROF 185K 185K 0
USER1.SPFLOG1.LIST 371K 371K 0
USER1.SPFTEMP1.CNTL --–------ --–----- ---
USER1.SPF3.LIST 788K 0K 0
---------- ------ ----------- BOTTOM OF DATA ----------- ------ ----
The long message gives a further explanation of the error,
suggesting that you check the syntax.
If you invoke HELP again,
ISMF displays the message help panel shown in Figure 6,
which tells you how to proceed.
Figure 6. Example of a Message Help Panel HELP-----------------------------ISMF MESSAGE----------------------------------
COMMAND ===>
MESSAGE NUMBER: DGTUS005
SHORT MESSAGE: INVALID COMMAND
LONG MESSAGE:
COMMAND 'RSETORE' NOT FOUND OR CONTAINS INVALID SYNTAX.
EXPLANATION:
The messages above were issued by the command, line operator,
or ISPF during processing.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
The above messages should indicate the reason the command or line
operator was not successful. For additional information refer to
documentation appropriate to specific command. If you need further
help contact your system programmer or your IBM customer
representative for help.
Use ENTER to continue with ISMF HELP, Use END to return to ISMF.
Some message help panels link back to the help
panels for ISMF panels. If a panel is linked, the bottom instruction
line tells you to use ENTER to look at the next ISMF help panel.
Because
ISMF is an ISPF application, ISMF also displays ISPF error messages.
If you receive an ISPF error message, you will always see a short
error message and an associated long error message. However, you will
not always see a message help panel.
MESSAGE Line Operator
When
you are working with list panels, use the MESSAGE line operator
to display messages resulting from a previously used line operator.
The resulting messages can help diagnose errors that occur when ISMF
processes line operators.Line
operators are commands you use in the line operator field of a list
panel to perform functions on individual entries in the list. For
more information about line operators, see Line Operators.
ISMF saves the information
from the last operation performed on a specific list entry even if
this operation was not the last one that ISMF did. However, ISMF only
saves the information from the last operation performed for line operators
that update the message history. SECURITY is an example of a line
operator that does not update the message history.
Enter MESSAGE
in the line operator column over the original line operator that failed.
Be sure to delete at least the first character that remains from
the original line operator.
A short message appears in the
upper right corner of the list panel. If you invoke HELP after the
short message is displayed, a longer version of the message appears
just below the command line. If you invoke HELP a second time, ISMF
takes you to a help panel similar to the one shown in Figure 6. This MESSAGE help panel provides information
about the line operator that failed.
Figure 7 shows
an example of the MESSAGE line operator.
Figure 7. Example of the MESSAGE
Line Operator Panel List Dataset Utilities Scroll Help
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATA SET LIST INVALID COMMAND
Command ===> SCROLL ===> DATA
COMMAND 'POMPRESS' NOT FOUND OR CONTAINS INVALID SYNTAX.
Enter Line Operators Below: Data Columns 3-5 of 41
LINE ALLOC ALLOC % NOT
OPERATOR DATA SET NAME SPACE USED USED
---(1)---- ------------(2)------------ ---(3)--- ---(4)--- -(5)-
*COMPRESS USER1.DEB.LISTING1 --------- --------- ---
USER1.ISMF.SYSIN.D880125. 46K 40K 13
T105441
USER1.ISPFILE 139K 93K 33
*COMPRESS USER1.ISPPROF 185K 185K 0
message S USER1.SPFLOG1.LIST 371K 371K 0
USER1.SPFTEMP1.CNTL --------- --------- ---
USER1.SPF3.LIST 788K 788K 0
---------- ------ ----------- BOTTOM OF DATA ----------- ------ ----
In this example, the COMPRESS line operator was entered
and processed for three individual data sets. However, the third COMPRESS
command was misspelled. Typing in the MESSAGE line operator on top
ofthe line operator causing the
error gives information about the last operation done on that data
set.
Using the Help Panel Index
There
is an online index for ISMF help panels. From any help panel, type INDEX on
the command line. To find a topic from the index, enter the first
letter or special character of the topic on the command line. Index
entries starting with that character appear. Select the index entry
you want by typing in the number of the entry on the command line.
Figure 8 shows one page of the help panel index.
Enter the topic identifier 31 as shown.
Figure 8. Example of a Page in the
Help Panel IndexHELP----------------- ISMF HELP INDEX: A (PAGE 3 OF 5) -----------------HELP
COMMAND ===>
To select a topic, enter its number on the command line.
31 ALLOC SPACE (data set)
32 ALLOC SPACE (DASD volume)
33 ALLOC SPACE IN TRK-MANAGED (DASD volume)
34 ALLOC SP TRK-MANAGD (DASD volume)
35 ALLOC UNIT (data set)
36 ALLOC USED (data set)
37 allocation threshold (storage group)
38 ALLOC THRESHOLD TRK-MANAGED HIGH (storage group)
39 ALLOC THRESHOLD TRK-MANAGED LOW (storage group)
40 ALTER line operator (construct applications)
41 ALTER line operator (data set)
42 ALTER line operator (mountable tape volume)
43 ALTER list command (mountable tape volume)
44 ALTER option overview
45 ALTERNATE DEVICE NUMBER (optical library)
(continued on next page)
Use ENTER to continue, END to exit Help.
ISMF displays the ALLOCATED SPACE (ALLOC SPACE) help panel,
as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9. Displaying a Help Panel
from the ISMF Help Panel IndexHELP-------------------------- ALLOC SPACE (3) -------------------------HELP
COMMAND ===>
ALLOC The value in this data column represents the total amount of space
SPACE (in kilobytes, K=1024 bytes, or in megabytes, M=1024 kilobytes) on
--(3)--- the volume allocated to this data set. This value is determined by
32K converting the number of tracks listed in the VTOC to kilobytes
(or megabytes), and rounding to the nearest kilobyte (or megabyte).
Possible values: 0 to 99999999 followed by K (Kilobytes)
or M (Megabytes).
The following special characters may appear in this data column:
-------- The value is not available.
???????? The value cannot be displayed because of an error in the VTOC
or catalog.
For VSAM data sets, the space shown is for the component listed. If the
list entry is a data component of a VSAM data set with the IMBED attribute,
the space includes the index sequence set space. An INDEX component entry
only includes space for the high-level index.
Use ENTER to continue, END to exit Help.
Use the ENTER key to go back to the help panel index. Use
the END command from either the index or help panel to return to the
functional panel you were using when you invoked HELP.
z/OS DFSMS Using the Interactive Storage Management Facility
Copyright IBM Corporation 1990, 2014