Creating a device format definition

The New MFS Device Format wizard guides you through the creation of a device format definition.

Note: The format definition file can be created directly as a member of an existing partitioned data set on the remote system. You can then add the file to an existing MVS subproject.
To create a format definition file:
  1. Click File > New > Other. You can also use the keystroke combination Ctrl+N.
  2. Expand the z/OS Development category.
  3. Click MFS > MFS Device Format.
  4. Click Next.
  5. On the MFS File Location page, select a local project or a partitioned data set on the remote system. This location is where the MFS format definition file is to be created.
  6. In the Name field, type a file name for the format definition.
  7. To set specific device format attributes, click Next.
  8. You can specify the following device format attributes:
    Device format name
    Type the device format name. This parameter is required. The length is from one to six alphanumeric characters. This name uniquely identifies this statement, and is referred to by message descriptors in the SOR= operand of MSG statements.
    Description
    The description is added to the MFS source code prologue as a comment. This input is optional.
    Device type
    Specify a 3270 display or printer as the device type. Corresponds to the device attribute, TYPE=. This parameter is required
    Width
    Specify the maximum line width for this DEV type as one of the following values:
    • Number of print positions per line of input or output data
    • Number of punch positions per card of input or output data
    • Card width for card reader input data
    This parameter is optional and is valid for device types 3270P.
    Substitution
    Specify the character that MFS uses to replace any X'3F', or null, characters in the input data stream. Corresponds to the device attribute, SUB=. The character must be specified in the form X'hh' or C'c', where "hh" is a hexadecimal value and "c" is a character value. This parameter is optional and is valid for device types 3270 and 3270-An.
    Format type
    Specify the format as input-only (INPUT), output-only (OUTPUT), or both (INOUT).
    Compression
    Select the compression from the drop-down list:
    • SHORT- MFS removes trailing blanks from short fields.
    • FIXED - MFS removes trailing blanks from fixed-length fields.
    • ALL - MFS removes trailing blanks from all fields that are presented by the application program.
    This setting is optional.

    To add the new format definition file to an existing MVS subproject, select Add to MVS subproject checkbox and then select an MVS subproject from the list.

    The list is empty if no z/OS® Projects and MVS subprojects are defined for the workspace.
  9. Click Finish.
The device format file is created and displayed in the specified location on the local or remote system.