Session Manager

TSO/E Session Manager is an interface to line mode TSO/E that provides full-screen display support for line-oriented commands, programs, CLISTs, and REXX execs. TSO/E Session Manager keeps a complete journal of everything that happens during your terminal session while you are in line mode TSO/E. It records everything you type in and everything the system displays. Any time during your terminal session, you can look at work you did in the beginning, middle, or end of your session. TSO/E Session Manager also lets you print a copy of this information. Using Session Manager, you can:

Keep a record of your interaction with TSO/E.
Edit and reuse previous input and output with a minimal number of keystrokes. This data can easily be reentered as input, saved in a data set, or printed.
Access, compare, and manipulate the data needed to do your work directly on the screen. You no longer have to rely on physical information and listings that are often outdated, time-consuming to obtain, and cumbersome to work with. You can use PF keys to locate data quickly and to move efficiently through data streams.

TSO/E Session Manager enhances the usability of the TSO/E TEST command and other interactive debugging tools. You can keep track of which data areas you have viewed and print the output from the TEST command.

To use Session Manager, you need access to a LOGON procedure that recognizes Session Manager.

The Session Manager default screen supplied by IBM® is divided into five major areas called windows. These windows can be used to enter, look at, and change the work on the screen. Session Manager Figure 1 shows the default display screen.

Figure 1. Session Manager Display Screen

The following list describes each window:

Windows: Definition
(1) MAIN: The large portion of the display screen above the numbered line is the MAIN window. This window displays a certain number of lines in the stream of data containing TSO/E input and output. If you wish to submit one or more of these lines as input to TSO/E, type over any character on a line and press the Enter key.
(2) CURRENT: Just below the numbered line is the CURRENT window. When you first log on, this window displays the last two lines of output generated. A PF key lets you alternate the contents of this window between the last two lines of input entered and the last two lines of output generated.
(3) STATUS: The STATUS windows for the MAIN window are located in the lower right hand corner of the display screen. The top window shows the scroll amount (labelled SCROLL===>HALF) and the bottom window indicates whether the MAIN window is locked or unlocked.
The top of the MAIN window contains older data in the stream. When enough data has been generated to fill the MAIN window, the older data begins to be pushed out of the top of the window. You can use PF keys to scroll forward, backward, left, and right in the stream. This action locks the window in place over the desired section of the stream. The keyboard remains unlocked so that you can edit lines in the window.
(4) ENTRY: The ENTRY window begins right after the arrow near the bottom of your display screen and continues to the vertical bar on the last line of the screen. This area is where you normally type in TSO/E commands.
(5) PASSWORD: The window after the vertical bar is the PASSWORD window and can be used to type in passwords for your data sets. The information you type in the PASSWORD window does not appear on the display screen or in your session journal.
The TSO/E Session Manager also uses the PASSWORD window to display any error messages to you.

Installations can tailor the layout of the display screen and the terminal environment to the requirements of its users. Experienced users can also tailor the screen layout and PF key definitions to suit their own needs by using Session Manager commands. These commands can easily be put in a CLIST, enabling all users to tailor the environment for themselves.