Conversion utility general information

The output panel library can be defined as either fixed length or variable length. A fixed-length record library must have a record length of 80, 132, or 160 bytes. Record lengths for variable-length record libraries must be increased by 4. Variable-length libraries defined with a record length other than 84, 136, or 164 are treated as the next smaller standard size. Thus, a variable-length file of 255 bytes is treated as 164, and a variable-length file of 100 bytes is treated as 84.

The NOPREP option directs the conversion utility to write the panels being processed directly to the specified panel output file in the ISPF source format. The overall width for the created panels is limited by the record length of the designated file. Thus, if you have specified a panel library with a fixed length of 80 bytes (or a variable length of 84 bytes), the maximum panel width allowed on the PANEL tag is 80.

The PREP (default) option causes the creation of a temporary panel library to receive the ISPF source panel format file. The temporary library is created with a record length of 160 bytes. Multiple panels created in PREP mode are stored in the temporary library and converted through one call to ISPPREP. When all of the panels are converted, the temporary library is deleted. ISPPREP is called by the conversion utility when you do this:

Change the name of the output panel library on the ISPDTLC invocation panel and then convert another panel.
Deselect the Preprocess Panel Output option on the ISPDTLC invocation panel and then convert another panel.
Change the Generate Statistics on Panel/Message/Script Members option on the ISPDTLC invocation panel and then convert another panel.
Enter "PREP" on the command line of the ISPDTLC invocation panel or select "PREP" from the Commands action bar pull-down.
Exit from the conversion utility.

ISPPREP is also called when:

The number of extents of the temporary library exceeds 5.
The number of members written to the temporary library exceeds 50.

ISPPREP output for panels longer than 80 bytes can be stored in a panel library with a fixed record length of 80 (or a variable record length of 84). Thus, you can create larger than standard panels in PREP mode while directing the final panel output to a library defined with a standard length. It is the developer's responsibility to ensure that the WIDTH specified on the PANEL tag is appropriate for the device intended to display the panel.

When the log or list files are specified as members of a partitioned data set, and the log or list file member name is specified as an asterisk (*) the member is written before the invocation panel is redisplayed. Otherwise, the log or list file is stored in memory (and added to for additional DTL source conversions) until one of these occurances:

The output log or list data set name is changed and another conversion is performed.
The member name of the log or list file is changed on the invocation panel and another conversion is performed.
The input DTL source member name is changed when the log or list member name is specified as an asterisk.
You enter on the command line or select from the Commands action bar pull-down:
SAVELOG

to save the log file

SAVELIST

to save the list file

SAVEALL

to save both log and list files.
You exit the conversion utility.

When the log file is specified as a partitioned data set, messages issued when the conversion utility ends are directed to the screen.

When the CANCEL command is entered, ISPDTLC displays a cancellation confirmation panel. This panel provides options for disposition of pending log and list file members and for any panels to be processed by ISPPREP. An option is also provided to ignore the CANCEL command and resume ISPDTLC processing.

Figure 1. ISPF Dialog Tag Language conversion utility - confirm cancel

   ISPF Dialog Tag Language Conversion Utility

 You have entered the CANCEL command.
 Specify termination processing choice.


 _  1. Do not save log or list files. Do not
       preprocess pending panels.
    2. Save log and list files only.
    3. Preprocess pending panels only.
    4. Save pending log and list files.
       Preprocess pending panels.
    5. Ignore CANCEL command and resume
       processing.
  F1=Help      F3=End       F4=Return    F5=Rfind
  F6=Rchange  F10=Left     F11=Right    F12=Cretriev

The panel appears with option 1 preselected. You may choose another option to save log and list files only, preprocess pending panels only, save log and list files and preprocess pending panels, or resume processing.

When you enter the SUBMIT command, ISPDTLC creates and submits a batch job, using the file names and options specified on the interactive panel. After the job is submitted, the interactive panel is redisplayed. The batch JCL file is built using the ISPF skeleton ISPDTLB.

You can also run ISPDTLC from ISPF options 4 and 5 and from the workplace member list.

Note: From the workplace member list, enter "T" (TSO) in front of the member name to be processed. On the TSO pop-up panel enter

"ISPDTLC / (PANEL RETURN"

to run a foreground conversion or

"ISPDTLC / (PANEL SUBMIT"

to submit a batch job.

After you complete the required ISPDTLC invocation panel fields and press Enter, the conversion runs or the job is submitted, and control is returned to the previous option.

Extremely large DTL input source files (source files that contain multiple panel, message, key list, and application command table definitions) might cause memory capacity to be exceeded. Should this occur, split the DTL input source file into multiple files with fewer panels, message members, key lists, or command table definitions or reduce the record length of the input source file.

When ISPDTLC is invoked recursively, that is, more than 1 time from the same ISPF screen, this panel is displayed.

Figure 2. ISPF Dialog Tag Language conversion utility - recursive invoke

   ISPF Dialog Tag Language Conversion Utility

 CAUTION:
 ISPDTLC has been invoked recursively.
 Results are not predictable.

 Enter processing option.
 _  1. CANCEL this invocation of ISPDTLC.
    2. Proceed with recursive execution.






  F1=Help     F3=End      F4=Return   F5=Rfind
  F6=Rchange F10=Left    F11=Right   F12=Cancel

The panel appears with option 1 preselected. If you select option 2, the new invocation is processed. Because of possible region size limitations, results are not predictable.

The recursive invocation check is based on the setting of a profile variable that is unique for each active screen. If the recursive check panel appears following an abend, the profile variable was not properly reset when the abend occurred. In this case, select option 2 to allow ISPDTLC to continue.

If the conversion utility is called without a source-filespec or if the PANEL option has been specified, the invocation panel is displayed. If other options have been specified, they are merged with the options from the profile before the display. The PROFILE option is disregarded when the invocation panel is displayed.

The national-language selection UPPERENG causes the conversion utility to use the uppercase version of the ENGLISH program literals. In addition, the tag text for all tags except <SOURCE> is translated to uppercase during the conversion process.

The national-language selection SGERMAN causes the conversion utility to use a special German-to-Swiss German conversion routine to create Swiss German panels from either German or Swiss German DTL source files.