Creating a sign-on display file

The sign-on display file is used to show sign-on displays at workstations that are allocated to the subsystem. The sign-on display file can be changed when the subsystem is active. However, the new sign-on display file is not used until the next time the subsystem is started. To create a sign-on display file, use the character-based interface.

A new sign-on display file can be created using the IBM-supplied sign-on display file as a starting point. The source for this display file is located in library QGPL in source physical file QDDSSRC. It is strongly recommended that you create a new source physical file and copy the IBM-supplied display file to the new source physical file before making any changes. In this way, the original IBM-supplied source is still available.

Considerations:

  • The order in which the fields in the sign-on display file are declared must not be changed. The position in which they are displayed on the display can be changed.
  • Do not change the total size of the input or output buffers. Serious problems can occur if the order or size of the buffers are changed.
  • Do not use the data descriptions specifications (DDS) help function in the sign-on display file.
  • Always specify 256 on the MAXDEV parameter.
  • The MENUBAR and PULLDOWN keywords cannot be specified in a sign-on display file description.
  • The buffer length for the display file must be 318. If it is less than 318, the subsystem uses the default sign-on display, QDSIGNON in library QSYS.
  • The copyright line cannot be deleted.
  • Member QDSIGNON is the IBM-supplied sign-on display file that utilizes a 10 character password.
  • Member QDSIGNON2 is the IBM-supplied sign-on display file that utilizes a 128 character password.
Command: Create Display File (CRTDSPF)
A hidden field in the display file named UBUFFER can be changed to manage smaller fields. UBUFFER is 128 bytes long and is stated as the last field in the display file. This field can be changed to function as an input/output buffer so that the data specified in this field is available to application programs when the interactive job is started. You can change the UBUFFER field to contain as many smaller fields as you need if the following requirements are met:
  • The new fields must follow all other fields in the display file. The location of the fields on the display does not matter as long as the order in which they are put in the data description specifications (DDS) meets this requirement.
  • The length must total 128. If the length of the fields is more than 128, some of the data is not passed.
  • All fields must be input/output fields (type B in DDS source) or hidden fields (type H in DDS source).