The EDIT command has two modes of operation: input mode and edit mode. You enter data into a data set when you are in input mode. You enter subcommands and their operands when you are in edit mode.

You must specify a data set name when you enter the EDIT command. If you specify the NEW operand, the system places you in input mode. If you do not specify the NEW operand, you are placed in edit mode if your specified data set is not empty. If the data set is empty, you are placed in input mode.

If you have limited access to your data set, by assigning a password, you can enter a slash (/) followed by the password of your choice after the data set name operand of the EDIT command.

Entering either EMODE or IMODE operands on the EDIT command overrides the normal mode setting described above. The specification of the RECOVER operand on the EDIT command places you in edit mode upon recovery. Refer to Recovering an EDIT Work File for more information about the RECOVER operand.