Using the slash ( / ) character

If a command, CLIST, or REXX exec requires the data set name in a position other than the first operand or if other operands are needed, you can use the slash ( / ) character to represent the quoted data set name. If no operands are specified after the command, ISPF uses the name of the data set being acted on as the command's first operand.

To specify a member of a partitioned data set, enclose the member name or pattern in parentheses immediately following the / character. You can use this format with the V (view data set), B (browse data set), D (delete data set), E (edit data set), and M (display member list) line commands. For information about these line commands, see Data set list utility line commands.

You may find it helpful to call the SHOWCMD primary command before using the slash ( / ) for the first time. After you call SHOWCMD, a special Data Set List Utility panel appears each time you enter a line command, TSO command, CLIST, or REXX exec on a data set list display. The panel shows you the command you entered and how ISPF expanded, and thus interpreted, that command. See SHOWCMD command for more information about and an example of the SHOWCMD primary command.

The rules shown apply to substituting the slash ( / ) character for a data set name. Each rule is followed by one or more examples that prove the rule by using either a CLIST or a line command.

In each example, the data set being acted on is USER.TEST.DATA, which always appears, either completely or partially, in uppercase. However, the CLIST or line command is typed in lowercase to differentiate between the CLIST or line command and USER.TEST.DATA when this data set name is either completely or partially typed over.

Each example also shows:

Original: The line as it appears before the CLIST or line command is entered.
As typed: The line as it appears after the CLIST or line command is typed.
After: The line as it appears after the CLIST or line command is expanded to show the placement of quotes and data set name substitution for the slash (/) character.

You can type over the data set name. Expanded commands can contain a maximum of 255 characters and are converted to uppercase. This example shows how rule 1 would apply if you typed %clist1 da(/):
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  %clist1 da(/).TEST.DATA
(After)     %CLIST1 DA('USER.TEST.DATA')
```
The data set name substitution character (/) is replaced with the quoted, fully qualified data set name if the character following the / is not a number, letter, or national character. This example shows how rule 2 would apply if you typed %clist2 / newdate(1986/03/15):
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  %clist2 / newdate(1986/03/15)
(After)     %CLIST2 'USER.TEST.DATA' NEWDATE(1986/03/15)
```
If a slash ( / ) is followed immediately by a member name in parentheses, the ending quote for the data set is placed after the closing parenthesis that follows the member name. This example shows how rule 3 would apply if you typed %clist3 da(/(xyz)):
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  %clist3 da(/(xyz)).DATA
(After)     %CLIST3 DA('USER.TEST.DATA(XYZ)')
```
If the first operand is the unquoted data set name as it appears in the list, quotes are added around it or after a closing parenthesis following a member name. This example shows how rule 4 would apply if you typed b (the B (browse) line command) and added member (abc):
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  b        USER.TEST.DATA(abc)
(After)     B 'USER.TEST.DATA(ABC)'
```
If the line command does not have any operands or if the data set name has not been substituted as specified by either rule 3 or rule 4, the quoted, fully qualified data set name is added to the end of the line command. This example shows how rule 5 would apply if you typed %clist4 user.test.fortran:
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  %clist4 user.test.fortran
(After)     %CLIST4 USER.TEST.FORTRAN 'USER.TEST.DATA'
```
This example shows how rule 5 would apply if you typed %clist4 'user.test.fortran'. The purpose of this example is to show that if you enclose the CLIST operand in quotes, ISPF still puts quotes around the data set name being acted on. The results are the same.
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  %clist4 'user.test.fortran'
(After)     %CLIST4 'USER.TEST.FORTRAN' 'USER.TEST.DATA'
```
This example shows how rule 5 would apply if you typed %clist5 member1(abc). The purpose of this example is to show that the results do not change if the CLIST operand contains a member name enclosed in parentheses.
```
(Original)           USER.TEST.DATA
(As typed)  %clist5 member1(abc)ATA
(After)     %CLIST5 MEMBER1(ABC) 'USER.TEST.DATA'
```