ISMF allows you to alter the use attribute, storage group, shelf location, and owner information of a single tape volume or a volume list through the use of the ALTER line operator or the ISMF ALTER command. These commands are used from the Mountable Tape Volume List panel (see Figure 1).
ISMF is an important part of the alter scheme when used in conjunction with the ALTER command because it allows you to start with an entire tape volume list, and then by using sorting and filtering capabilities, you can reduce that list to a subset of volumes; for example, all the volumes in a single storage group. You can then use the ALTER command against the subset list to change information for all the volumes on the list at once. In an ATLDS, you can also use the ALTER command to take the volume out of the error category in the library manager inventory.