The following table describes some of the most used ISPF commands that may come very handy when editing datasets or members the mainframe:
| Edit Primary Commands | |
|---|---|
| CHANGE string1 string2 | Changes first occurrence of string1 with string2. CHANGE can also be used as C |
| CHANGE ALL string1 string2 | Changes all occurrences of string1 with string2 |
| CHANGES LAST string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2, starting at the bottom of the data and searching backward to find the last occurrence of string1 |
| CHANGE PREV string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2, starting at the current cursor location and searching backward to find the previous occurrence of string1 |
| CHANGE NEXT string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2, starting at the first position after the current cursor location and searching ahead to find the next occurrence of string1 |
| CHANGE PREFIX string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2, locating string1 at the beginning of a word |
| CHANGE SUFFIX string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2, locating string1 at the end of a word |
| CHANGE WORD string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2 providing string1 is a word |
| CHANGE X string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2 scanning only the lines that are excluded from the display |
| CHANGE NX string1 string2 | Changes string1 with string2 scanning only the lines that are not excluded from the display |
| C string1 string2 col1 col2 | Changes string1 with string2 between column 1 and column 2 |
| COPY data | Copies a sequential data set, a member of a partitioned data set, or a z/OS UNIX file into the data being edited |
| COPY data AFTER label | Copies data after the line with the specified label |
| COPY data BEFORE label | Copies data before the line with the specified label |
| CREATE data | Creates a member of a partitioned data set, a sequential data set, or z/OS UNIX file from the data you are editing. Use CREATE or CRE. |
| CREATE data label1 label2 | Creates a member, dataset or UNIX file. Label1 and label2 identify the start and end of the group of lines which are added to the new member. |
| CREATE data .zf .zl | Creates a member, dataset or UNIX file of the entire member being edited. .ZF sets a label for the first line and .ZF for the last line. |
| DEL ALL | Deletes all the lines from the data you are editing |
| DEL X | Deletes all the lines that are excluded |
| DEL NX | Deletes all the lines that are not excluded |
| DEL label1 label2 | Deletes the group of lines defined from label1 up to label2 |
| EDIT member | Edits another sequential data set, partitioned data set member, or z/OS UNIX file during your current edit session |
| EXCLUDE ALL | Hides from view all the lines of the member being edited and replaces them with a dashed line. Use EXCLUDE or X |
| EXCLUDE string | Hides from view the first line that contain a search string |
| EXCLUDE string ALL | Hides from view all the lines that contain the search string |
| EXCLUDE string PREV | Hides from view the line that contains the search string before the cursor |
| EXCLUDE string NEXT | Hides from view the line that contains the search string after the cursor |
| EXCLUDE string PREFIX | Hides from view the line that contains the search string as a prefix from a word |
| EXCLUDE string SUFFIX | Hides from view the line that contains the search string as a suffix from a word |
| EXCLUDE string WORD | Hides from view the line that contains the search string as an all word |
| EXCLUDE string col1 col2 | Hides from view the line that contains the search string between col1 and col2 |
| FIND string |
Finds the specified string (ex: F REVIEW). F can be used instead of FIND. |
| FIND string NEXT | Finds the next occurrence of the string in regards to where the cursor is positioned |
| FIND string PREV | Finds the previous occurrence of the string in regards to where the cursor is positioned |
| FIND string FIRST | Finds the first occurrence of the string |
| FIND string LAST | Finds the last occurrence of the string |
| FIND string ALL | Finds all the occurrences of the string |
| FIND string SUFFIX | Finds the string as a suffix of a word |
| FIND string PREFIX | Finds the string as a prefix of a word |
| FIND string WORD | Finds the string as a all word |
| FIND string col1 col2 | Finds the string between column 1 and column 2 (ex: F HELLO 20 40) |
| .LABEL | Defines a label on a line (ex: .HERE) |
| LOCATE line | Locates line number n (ex: L 20, LOC 20, LOCATE 20) |
| LOCATE label | Locates the line with the specified label |
| MOVE data | Moves a sequential data set, member of a partitioned data set, or z/OS UNIX file into the data being edited |
| MOVE data AFTER label | Moves data after the line with the specified label |
| MOVE data BEFORE label | Moves data after the line with the specified label |
| REPLACE data | Replaces a sequential data set, member of a partitioned data set, or z/OS UNIX file with data you are editing. If the member , or z/OS UNIX file you want to replace does not exist, the editor creates it. User REPLACE or REP. |
| REPLACE data label1 label2 | Label1 and label2 identify the start and end of the group of lines to replace the member or data set |
| RESET | Removes the messages that appear in the editing area. Use RESET or RES. |
| SAVE | Saves all the changes made |
| SORT | Sorts ascending all the data in the member being edited |
| SORT A | Same as SORT |
| SORT D | Sorts descending all the data in the member being edited |
| SORT X | Sorts only the lines that are excluded |
| SORT NX | Sorts only the lines that are not excluded |
| SORT col1 col2 | Sorts data by the content from col1 to col2 |
| Edit Line Commands | |
| UC | Changes the text on the line from lower case to upper case |
| UCn | Changes the text on the ‘n’ lines starting at this one to upper case |
| LC | Changes the text of the line from upper case to lower case |
| LCn | Changes the text on the ‘n’ lines starting at this one to lower case |
| C | Copies the content of the line |
| Cn | Copies the content of the line ‘n’ times |
| CC | Copies the block of lines starting with the first CC command and ending with the second CC command |
| M | Moves the content of the line |
| Mn | Moves the content of n lines starting at this one |
| MM | Moves the block of lines starting with the first MM command and ending with the second MM command |
| A | Places the copied/moved lines after this line |
| An | Repeats the copied/moved lines n times after this line |
| B | Places the copied/moved lines before this line |
| Bn | Repeats the copied/moved lines n times before this line |
| D | Deletes the line |
| Dn | Deletes n lines starting at this line |
| DD | Deletes the block of lines starting with the first DD command and ending with the second DD command |
| X | Excludes this line |
| Xn | Excludes n lines starting at this line |
| XX | Excludes the block of lines starting with the first XX command and ending with the second XX command |
| R | Repeats this line |
| Rn | Repeats n lines starting at this one |
| RR | Repeats the block of lines starting with the first RR command and ending with the second RR command |
| RRn | Repeats the block of lines starting with the first RR command and ending with the second RR command ‘n’ times |
| O | Overlays line content with copied/moved line |
| On | Overlays ‘n’ lines starting at this one with copied/moved lines |
| OO | Overlays the block of lines starting with the first OO command and ending with the second OO command with copied/moved lines |
| S | Shows one line of the excluded text |
| Sn | Shows n lines of the excluded text |
| F | Shows the first line of the excluded text |
| Fn | Shows the first n lines of the excluded text |
| L | Shows the last line of the excluded text |
| Ln | Shows the last n lines of the excluded text |
| I | Insert one line after this line |
| In | Insert n lines after this line |
| ( | Shifts the line left 2 columns |
| (n | Shifts the line left n columns |
| (( | Shifts the block of lines starting with the first (( command and ending with the second (( command 2 columns to the left |
| ((n | Shifts the block of lines starting with the first (( command and ending with the second (( command ‘n’ columns to the left |
| ) | Shifts the line right 2 columns |
| )n | Shifts the line right ‘n’ columns |
| )) | Shifts the block of lines starting with the first )) command and ending with the second )) command 2 columns to the right |
| ))n | Shifts the block of lines starting with the first )) command and ending with the second )) command ‘n’ columns to the right |
| < | Data shifts the line left 2 columns |
| <n | Data shifts the line left n columns |
| << | Data shifts the block of lines starting with the first << command and ending with the second << command 2 columns to the left |
| <<n | Data shifts the block of lines starting with the first << command and ending with the second << command ‘n’ columns to the left |
| > | Data shifts the line right 2 columns |
| >n | Data shifts the line right ‘n’ columns |
| >> | Data shifts the block of lines starting with the first >> command and ending with the second >> command 2 columns to the right |
| >>n | Data shifts the block of lines starting with the first >> command and ending with the second >> command ‘n’ columns to the right |
| COLS | Displays a ruler with individual columns marked |
| MASK | The MASK line command displays the =MASK> line. On this line, you can type characters that you want to insert into an unformatted data set or member. These characters, which are called the mask, are inserted whenever you use the I (insert), TE (text entry), or TS (text split) line commands, or when you edit an empty data set. |
| BNDS | The BOUNDS (BNDS) line command displays the boundary definition line |
| TABS | When you type TABS in the line command field, =TABS> is displayed along with any previously defined tab positions. |
| MD | The MD (make dataline) line command converts ==MSG>, =NOTE=, =COLS>, or ======(information) lines to data so they can be saved as part of your data set. |
| MDn | Converts ‘n’ number of lines |
| TE | The TE (text entry) line command provides one very long line wrapped around many lines of the display to allow power typing for text entry. The editor does the formatting for you. |
| TEn | Applies the TE to ‘n’ lines starting at this line |
| TS | Splits the text line at the cursor |
| TSn | Splits the text line at the cursor and inserts ‘n’ lines |
| TF | Flows the text to the end of paragraph which is either a blank line or an indentation |
| TFn | Flows the text using the column number ‘n’ as the right margin |
| Edit Profile | |
| AUTOSAVE ON | Automatically save changes when using the PF3 key |
| AUTOSAVE OFF | Turns this feature off |
| AUTOLIST ON | Generates a source listing in the ISPF list data set for eventual printing when you end an edit session in which you changed and saved data |
| AUTOLIST OFF | Turns this feature off |
| BOUNDS col1 col2 | Sets the left and right boundaries and saves them in the edit profile. Use BOUNDS or BND. |
| CANCEL | Cancels (ignores) all the changes and exit. The changes are not saved. Use command CANCEL or CAN |
| HILITE ON | Sets program colouring on |
| HILITE OFF | Turns this feature off |
| HILITE AUTO | Allows ISPF to determine the language |
| HILITE ASM | Highlights the data as Assembler |
| HILITE C | Highlights the data as C |
| HILITE COBOL | Highlights the data as Cobol |
| HILITE HTML | Highlights the data as HTML |
| HILITE JCL | Highlights the data as Job Control Language (JCL) |
| HILITE PANEL | Highlights the data as ISPF Panel Language |
| HILITE PASCAL | Highlights the data as Pascal |
| HILITE PLI | Highlights the data as PL/I |
| HILITE REXX | Highlights the data as Rexx |
| HILITE SKEL | Highlights the data as ISPF Skeleton Language |
| HILITE SUPERC | Highlights the data as SuperC listing |
| HILITE XML | Highlights the data as XML |
| PACK ON | Saves data in packed format |
| PACK OFF | Turns this feature off |
| TABS ON | Turns tabs mode on, which means that logical tabs can be used to break up strings of data. This is the default operand. |
| TABS OFF | Turns this feature off |
| PROFILE | Shows current profile settings. Can use PROFILE or PROF |
| PROFILE profilename | Switches to a different profile or creates a new profile |
| PROFILE LOCK | Saves the changes made to the edit profile |
| STATS ON | Keeps automatic statistics |
| STATS OFF | Turns this feature off |
| Edit Sequence Numbering | |
| AUTONUM ON | Resequences line numbers when saved |
| AUTONUM OFF | Turns this feature off |
| NUMBER ON |
Turns line numbering on |
| NUMBER OFF |
Turns this feature off. |
| NUMBER STD |
Sets number on STD |
| NUMBER COBOL |
Sets number on COBOL |
| NUMBER STD COBOL |
Sets number on STD and COBOL |
| RENUM | Renumbers the lines starting at 100 and incrementing by 100. RENUM also sets NUMBER ON. |
| RENUM STD | Sets number on STD |
| RENUM COBOL | Sets number on COBOL |
| RENUM STD COBOL | Sets number on STD and COBOL |
| UNNUM | Turns off number mode and replaces the line numbers with blanks |
| Edit Display Modes | |
| CAPS ON | Automatically converts all lowercased entered into upper case |
| CAPS OFF | Turns this feature off |
| HEX ON | Turns Hexadecimal display ON |
| HEX OFF | Turns this feature off |
| NULLS ON | Trailing blanks are sent to the screen as null characters |
| NULLS OFF | Turns this feature off |
| Edit Automatic Recovery | |
| RECOVERY ON | Keeps a record of all the changes made during the editing session. Can use RECOVERY or REC |
| RECOVERY OFF | Turns this feature off |
| UNDO | Undoes the last modification done (for this to work RECOVERY must be ON) |