HEX—display data in hexadecimal format

The HEX command causes data to be displayed in hexadecimal format. The syntax of the command is:


              .-VERT-.     
>>-HEX--+-ON--+------+-+---------------------------------------><
        |     '-DATA-' |   
        +-VERT---------+   
        +-DATA---------+   
        '-OFF----------'

You can specify the operands in any order:

where:

ON: Turns hexadecimal mode on. This is the default.
OFF: Turns hexadecimal mode off.
VERT: Valid only when hexadecimal mode is ON. This is the default. Figure 1 shows how VERT causes the hexadecimal representation to be displayed vertically, two rows per byte, under each character.
DATA: Valid only when hexadecimal mode is ON. Figure 2 shows how DATA causes the hexadecimal representations to be displayed as a string of hexadecimal characters, two per byte. Because the hexadecimal string is twice the length of the data string, it occupies two rows. If you omit this operand, VERT is assumed.

When using browse and placing the cursor anywhere within the record, SCROLL UP positions the data where the cursor is located as the last complete line record on the display. A complete line record consists of the standard character form line, two hexadecimal character lines, and a separator line.

For example, this command would display the hexadecimal notation vertically:

HEX VERT

Three lines are displayed for each source line. The first line shows the data in standard character form. Figure 1 shows the next two lines with the same data in vertical hexadecimal representation. A separator line is displayed between the two representations to make it easier for you to read the data.

Figure 1. Browse hexadecimal display - vertical (ISRBROBA)

This screen dump shows a browse of a file, with text and hex.

To display the hexadecimal notation horizontally, use this command:

HEX DATA

Figure 2 shows the next two lines with the same data in DATA hexadecimal representation.

Figure 2. Browse hexadecimal display - data (ISRBROBA)

This screen dump shows the browse of a file, with data displayed in hex.

You can use the FIND command to find invalid characters or any specific hexadecimal character regardless of the setting of hexadecimal mode. See the syntax for picture strings and hexadecimal strings under the description of the FIND command in z/OS ISPF Edit and Edit Macros.