Navigating Through Functional Panels

There are different types of functional panels, but they all use the same navigation commands. You can use commands that you enter on the command line or program function (PF) keys that are preset with defaults.

Controlling Functional Panel Flow

Table 1 shows the keys and commands that control the functional panel flow. Enter the commands explicitly on the command line. You can also set up these commands as program function (PF) keys. For an explanation of the default PF key settings and how to change them, see Program Function (PF) Key Assignments.

Tip: The descriptions and examples in this book assume that the command line appears at the top left of the screen. The command line on your screen might appear at either the top left or bottom left. You can control the command line location by using the ISPF Primary Option Menu and selecting Option 0.4, Display Characteristics.

Table 1. Navigation Commands for Functional Panels
Command or Key	Description
ENTER	This key either takes you to the next sequential panel or verifies the panel fields and does the specified operation.
HELP PF1	If a short message or error message is displayed, this command provides a long message.Then, use HELP again to go to a message help panel. If an error message is not displayed, Help panels give more information about a particular ISMF functional panel or function. For a more detailed explanation of how to use HELP, see Using Help Panels for Functional Panels.
END PF3	This command takes you back to the previous panel in logical sequence. If you are using HELP, END takes you back to the panel from which you invoked HELP. If you are looking at a list, END takes you back to the selection panel. When you use END, ISMF completes the current task. In some cases, END is a save and exit operation. The instruction area for the panel describes the use of END. On some panels, the CANCEL command ends the task; END saves the data and returns you to the selection panel.
RETURN PF4	This command takes you back to the ISMF Profile Option Menu if you are within the Profile Application; to the ISMF Primary Option Menu if you are in any other application;or to the functional panel from which you originally asked for HELP if you are on an ISMF help panel. If you are on an ISMF functional panel, RETURN is equivalent to repeatedly entering the END command until a menu panel is reached. Therefore, it will normally save the data when you exit an application.
CANCEL	This command returns you to the previous dialog without performing any of the current dialog functions. A dialog in this context is a set of related panels, such as the set of pages for generating a list or the set of pages for the created list for example. Use this command to exit the current dialog without saving the values you entered in the input fields. The command is valid from the Mountable Optical and Mountable Tape Volume Applications, the SMS applications, and the List Application.
UP PF7	This command enables you to go back to the previous panel usually when you have used the DOWN command to access the current panel.
DOWN PF8	This command enables you to access additional selection panels, usually panels on which you narrow down your selections rather than use defaults.
PROFILE	This command takes you to the ISMF Profile Option Menu.From this menu, you can change the characteristics of your ISMF user profile. Enter the PROFILE command from any ISMF panel except the menu panels and the panels listed under the ISMF Profile Option Menu.
ERTB	This command takes you to the Error Table. ISMF passes detailed information to the Error Table when an ISMF error occurs. This information provides further explanation to help diagnose an ISMF error message. You can enter the ERTB command as soon as the error occurs. Enter the ERTB command on any functional panel except the ISMF Primary Option Menu or the ISMF Profile Option Menu. You cannot enter the ERTB command when you are in PDF BROWSE or EDIT. For more information, see Figure 1.

Program Function (PF) Key Assignments

ISMF supports one set of PF key assignments for the Primary Option Menu and one for each of the ISMF applications. When you install ISMF, the Primary Option Menu and the ISMF applications have common PF key assignments. Table 2 shows the initial PF key assignments.

Table 2. Initial PF Key Assignments
Key	Assignment	Key	Assignment
PF1/13	HELP	PF7/19	UP
PF2/14	SPLIT	PF8/20	DOWN
PF3/15	END	PF9/21	SWAP
PF4/16	RETURN	PF10/22	LEFT
PF5/17	not assigned	PF11/23	RIGHT
PF6/18	not assigned	PF12/24	CURSOR

Displaying PF Key Assignments

The ISPF PFSHOW command displays the current PF key settings at the bottom of your screen. Once you enter PFSHOW, the PF key assignments remain until you enter the PFSHOW OFF command.

Changing PF Key Assignments

Use the KEYS command to change the PF key assignments. Because the ISMF Primary Option Menu and the ISMF applications all have their own sets of PF keys, the KEYS command affects only the menu panel or application in use when you enter the command. The new PF key assignments remain in effect until you alter them again.

Simply enter the KEYS command on the menu panel or any page of the application you want:

Command ===> KEYS

ISMF displays a PF Key Definition Panel with the current PF key settings for the ISMF Primary Option Menu or application. Change the PF key definitions on the PF Key Definition Panel to suit your needs.

Related Reading: For more information on customizing PF keys, refer to z/OS ISPF Services Guide.