In order to obtain the message ID associated with an error message in ISPF, you need to be in ISPF TEST mode.

ISPF is in TEST mode if:

• ISPF is invoked with the TEST, TESTX, TRACE, or TRACEX parameter specified on the ISPSTART, PDF, or ISPF command, or
• "Restore TEST/TRACE options" is not selected in option 0 and you go into option 7, Dialog Test, at some point in your current ISPF session.

If you are not in TEST mode, split the screen, enter option 7, Dialog Test, and swap back to the screen containing the error.

You can use the either of the following methods to get the message ID:

• Enter print on the panel displaying the error message. The message ID, along with the displayed message text and screen output, appears in the LIST data set. The LIST data set can be printed using the LIST command.
• With the short message displayed:
  1. Press the function key assigned to Help (default is F1) or type help on the command line. This displays the long message text for the error.
  2. Press the function key assigned to Help or type help on the command line once more to display the Tutorial panel associated with the error. The bottom lines of the Tutorial panel contain fields that list the current panel name, the previous panel name, and the message ID. The value following LAST MSG= is the message ID associated with the error.