The PFKTABxx and PFKs

The PFKTABxx parmlib members contain the PFK tables that have the definitions your installation has assigned to PFKs. To associate your console’s PFKs with the definitions in a particular PFK table:

The PFK parameter on the INIT statement in the active CONSOLxx member must identify the PFKTABxx member that contains the table.
The PFKTAB parameter on the CONSOLE statement in CONSOLxx must identify the name of the PFK table.
The particular table must contain entries; each entry supplies a command or commands associated with a PFK.

You use CONSOLxx and PFKTABxx members to set the PFK definitions at IPL. You can also change the PFK definitions for the duration of the IPL:

To change a PFK table:

Enter SET PFK=xx, if necessary, to change the PFKTABxx member in effect for the console. Other consoles using the former PFKTABxx member are not affected by the SET command you issue for your console.
Enter CONTROL N,PFK=nnnnnnnn to assign the PFK table that contains the PFK definitions you want to use for the console.

To change a PFK key:

Enter CONTROL N,PFK=(nn1,CMD=‘...’) to change a specific PFK key definition for the console where the command is entered.

During IPL, the system looks for the PFK parameter in CONSOLxx member. If the system does not find the PFK parameter, it issues the message:

IEA180I  USING IBM DEFAULT DEFINITIONS. NO PFK TABLES REQUESTED

In this case, PFKs 1 through 8 have the defaults that IBM® supplies. These defaults are shipped in sample IEESPFK.

To define PFKs for your consoles, see Defining PFKs using PFK tables.