Although you can alternately use any logical screen, only one of the logical screens is considered active at a time. The location of the cursor identifies the active screen. You make a screen active by using the SWAP command and its parameters to choose the desired screen.

The parameters on the SWAP command (LIST, PREV, NEXT, screen_name, and n) control which screens you see displayed.

SWAP command without parameters in 3270 mode

If only one screen exists, this command has no effect. If more than one screen exists, this command moves the cursor between the two logical screens that are displayed.

SWAP command without parameters in GUI mode

If only two screens are present, the cursor moves to the one that it is not currently on. If more than two screens exist, this command defaults to the SWAP LIST command and causes the ISPF task list to display in a pop-up window. See SWAP LIST command in GUI mode for more information.

SWAP PREV|NEXT|screen_name|n commands in both modes

Entering SWAP PREV changes the focus (for GUI mode) or display (for 3270 mode) to the next lower screen number from the one where the command is entered. Repeatedly issuing the same command causes each lower-numbered screen to display until screen number 1 is reached, then the counter wraps back to screen number 32 (or your installation's maximum number).

Entering SWAP NEXT changes the focus (for GUI mode) or display (for 3270 mode) to the next higher screen number from the one where the command is entered. Repeatedly issuing the same command causes each higher-numbered screen to display until screen number 32 (or your maximum) is reached, then the counter wraps back to screen number 1.

Entering SWAP screen_name changes the focus (for GUI mode) or display (for 3270 mode) to the screen named screen_name if it is active.

Entering SWAP n changes the focus (for GUI mode) or display (for 3270 mode) to the screen numbered n (ZSCREEN variable) if it is active.

SWAP LIST command in 3270 mode

This command displays the ISPF Task List, from which you can select which screen to display. The screen you select replaces the screen on which you entered the command.

SWAP LIST command in GUI mode

This command displays the ISPF Task List (Figure 1), from which you can select which screen to focus on.

Figure 1. ISPF Task List

All of the fields on the ISPF Task List panel are point-and-shoot fields. The results when choosing one are as follows:

Start a new screen

Starts a new logical ISPF screen.

Start a new application

This field is used in conjunction with the Application Name field. If you choose "Start a new application" you must enter an application name in the "Application Name" field.

Application Name

The name of an application you want to start by choosing the "Start new application" field on the ISPF Task List panel. This application is started in a new logical screen. ISPF invokes the application through the ISPF START command, so any application name and parameters that are valid for the START command are valid in the Application Name input field. If you need more space to enter the application name and parameters, press the Expand PF key to display a pop-up window that contains a longer input field.

For example, if a user types "keylist" in the Application Name input field and presses Enter, the ISPF KEYLIST application is invoked in a new logical screen.

Select a screen from the list of active sessions

Provides a list of active sessions for you to choose from.