ISPF keyboard keys and functions

Many screen capture examples show ISPF program function (PF) key settings at the bottom of the panel. Because it is common for z/OS® users to customize the PF key assignments to suit their needs, the key assignments shown might not match the PF key settings in use on your system. Actual function key settings vary from customer to customer.

Keyboard mapping lists some of the most frequently used PF keys and other keyboard functions and their corresponding keys.

The examples in this section use these keyboard settings. For example, directions to press Enter mean that you should press the keyboard's control key (Ctrl) at the lower right. If the keyboard locks up, press the control key at the lower left.

Table 1. Keyboard mapping
Function	Key
Enter	Ctrl (right side)
Exit, end, or return	PF3
Help	PF1
PA1 or Attention	Alt-Ins or Esc
PA2	Alt-Home
Cursor movement	Tab or Enter
Clear	Pause
Page up	PF7
Page down	PF8
Scroll left	PF10
Scroll right	PF11
Reset locked keyboard	Ctrl (left side)

From the ISPF Primary Menu, press the PF1 HELP key to display the ISPF tutorial. New users of ISPF should acquaint themselves with the tutorial (Figure 1) and with the extensive online help facilities of ISPF.

Besides the tutorial, you can access online help from any of the ISPF panels. When you invoke help, you can scroll through information. Press the PF1-Help key for explanations of common ISPF entry mistakes, and examples of valid entries. ISPF Help also contains help for the various functions found in the primary option menu.

Figure 1. ISPF Tutorial main menu

Tutorial --------------------- Table of Contents-------------------- Tutorial

                  ISPF Program Development Facility Tutorial

The following topics are presented in sequence, or may be selected by entering
a selection code in the option field:
  G  General      - General information about ISPF
  0  Settings     - Specify terminal and user parameters
  1  View         - Display source data or output listings
  2  Edit         - Create or change source data
  3  Utilities    - Perform utility functions
  4  Foreground   - Invoke language processors in foreground
  5  Batch        - Submit job for language processing
  6  Command      - Enter TSO command, CLIST, or REXX exec
  7  Dialog Test  - Perform dialog testing
  9  IBM Products - Use additional IBM program development products
  10 SCLM         - Software Configuration and Library Manager
  11 Workplace    - ISPF Object/Action Workplace
  X  Exit         - Terminate ISPF using log and list defaults
  The following topics will be presented only if selected by number:
  A  Appendices   - Dynamic allocation errors and ISPF listing formats
  I  Index        - Alphabetical index of tutorial topics

F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      F4=Resize    F5=Exhelp   F6=Keyshelp
F7=PrvTopic  F8=NxtTopic  F9=Swap     F10=PrvPage  F11=NxtPage F12=Cancel

PA1 is a very important key for TSO users and every user should know how to find it on the keyboard. Back in the early days, the "real" 3270 terminals had keys labeled PA1, PA2, and PA3. These were called Program Action keys or PA keys. In practice, only PA1 is still widely used and it functions as a break key for TSO. In TSO terminology, this is an attention interrupt. That is, pressing the PA1 key will end the current task.

Finding the PA1 key on the keyboard of a 3270 terminal emulator such as TN3270 emulator can be a challenge. A 3270 emulator can be customized to many different key combinations. On an unmodified x3270 session, the PA1 key is Left Alt-1.