Action bar

The action bar appears in the top portion of the panel. It contains keyword choices that provide users access to available actions for the current panel. When the user selects an action bar choice, a pull-down containing choices appears directly below the action bar choice.

Panel title

The panel title appears below the action bar.

Panel body

The panel body serves as the main work area of the panel. The panel body contains the input and output fields, selection fields, and other text.

Additionally, the panel body can contain optional top and bottom instructions, which provide instructional text to the user. Top instructions appear below the panel title and above the interactive fields on the panel. Top instructions tell the user how to interact with the panel. Bottom instructions appear below the interactive fields on the panel. Bottom instructions tell the user how to interact with the panel, or how to continue with the application.

Message area

ISPF uses the message area (or message pop-ups) to display messages to users while they are working in the panel.

Command area

The optional command area (or command line) consists of two components: the command field prompt and the command entry field. Application users can use the command entry field to enter commands or requests to the ISPF application.

Function key area

The optional function key area, which appears at the bottom of the panel immediately below the command area (if one is defined), contains the key assignments for dialog actions valid for the application panel. The user can request that function keys not be displayed.

Getting started: designing application panels tells you how to define application panels and panel elements.