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Recalling Those Darn Dataset Names

By Jim Moore

One of the more annoying aspects of ISPF usage is constantly having to remember, type and search for dataset names. In recent z/OS ISPF releases, there is some precious relief to this long-standing problem.  

The relief comes in the form of two ISPCMDS command table entries – AUTOTYPE and NRETRIEV – that are best equated to spare PF Keys.

Briefly, AUTOTYPE resembles the automatic text fill-in function so common in PC environments. This feature saves a lot of typing on PCs. Now you can use a similar feature in ISPF for dataset names. Note that it is similar – not exactly the same.

This is because TSO/ISPF is not as interactive as a PC. A press of an AID key is required to signal the TSO server address space that you want something done. But still, AUTOTYPE is quite a nice addition to ISPF. Refer to the Screen sample slide show in this issue.

NRETRIEV stands for Name Retrieve. It retrieves previously typed dataset names from the internally maintained referral lists (or "Reflists").

Both of these new features are well documented in the ISPF tutorial. A quick way to find explanations for their usage would be to use the tutorial index.

• Enter into the tutorial from anywhere in baseline ISPF (PF1 or HELP).
• Enter an "I" in the Command field of whatever tutorial panel you enter on and then press enter.
• This will take you to the INDEX.
• Once in the tutorial INDEX, enter the first letter of what you want information on.
• As an example, enter "A" (for AUTOTYPE) and press enter.
• You will be presented with a list of tutorial topics that begin with the letter "A".
• Find AUTOTYPE and enter the letter/number combination associated with it in the Command field. Press enter.

If you are running your ISPF sessions with KEYLIST ON, you might need to add the AUTOTYPE and NRETRIEV commands to a number of different keylists. I prefer to run ISPF with KEYLIST OFF. This allows me to use the backward compatible flavor of PF key setting – 24 to a session, globally applied across an ISPF NEWAPPL.

If you are unaware of the KEYLIST settings of ISPF, here's another chance to use the tutorial index.

I have PF16 set to AUTOTYPE and PF17 set to NRETRIEV. Note the following with regard to AUTOTYPE and NRETRIEV:

• They almost have to be equated to PF Keys to have any real utility.
• They are context sensitive as far as the Project/Group/Type and Other Dataset entry fields.
• They will only work on panels that have been coded to accept them.

All IBM baseline ISPF panels seem to accept these two new commands. However, some vendor or in-house written ISPF panels might not.

Experiment with these time-savers. You might find them useful. I do.

Jim Moore is the editor of The TSO Times

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