Terminal control commands

Terminal control commands are used for basic data transmission, for control functions, and for retrieving information about your terminal. Terminal control also provides special device group commands.

The commands described in this section apply only to the principal facility of the task issuing them, where that facility is one of the following:
  • A device connected through SAM
  • An LU Type 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 connected through z/OS® Communications Server.
Note: This section does not cover program-to-program communication, whether directed to the alternate or principal facility. This is covered in a separate manual, APPC commands are covered in the CICS Distributed Transaction Programming Guide.
Terminal control commands fall into four groups:
  • Basic data transmission commands: RECEIVE, SEND, and CONVERSE
  • Commands that send device controls, synchronize transmission, end a session, or perform similar control functions
  • Commands to tell you about your terminal: ASSIGN and INQUIRE.
  • Special device group commands: the batch data interchange (BDI) commands