Quick reference to ISMF commands and line operators
The abbreviations in the Application column of these tables represent
the following:
- ACS
- Automatic class selection
- AG
- Aggregate groups
- CDS
- Control data set
- CP
- Copy Pool
- DC
- Data class
- DS
- Data set
- DV
- Optical drive
- DVOL
- DASD volume
- LA
- List
- LB
- Optical library
- MC
- Management class
- OVOL
- Mountable optical volume
- SC
- Storage class
- SG
- Storage group
- TL
- Tape library
- TVOL
- Mountable tape volume
Tip: If you specify
an equal sign after any DFSMSdss or DFSMShsm line operator, processing
occurs in 'last-use mode,' which recalls the last values entered for
that particular line operator or command, and DFSMSdfp does not display
an entry panel.
Table 1 and Table 2 list the ISMF commands and line operators available to storage administrators. See z/OS DFSMS Using the Interactive Storage Management Facility for the line operators and commands available to the end user.
| Command | Minimum Abbreviation | Description | Application | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIVATE | AC | Copy the contents of an SCDS into an ACDS and activate it, or activate an existing ACDS. | CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| ALTER | AL | Alter the use attribute, storage group, shelf location or owner information (or any combination of these) for all tape volumes currently showing in the volume list. | OVOL, TVOL, TL | DFSMSdfp |
| AUDIT | AU | Verify the location of volumes in 3995 optical libraries or automated tape libraries. | OVOL, TVOL, TL | DFSMSdfp |
| BOTTOM | BOT | Scroll to the bottom of the entries. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| CANCEL | CA | Return to the previous dialog without performing any of the current dialog functions. | DC, SC, MC, SG, ACS, CDS, AG, LB, DV, LA, CP | DFSMSdfp |
| CLEAR | CLE | Reset line operator history. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| CLEAR ALL | CL ALL | Clear all pages on selection entry panels and filter panels. | DS, DVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| CLEAR PAGE | CL PA | Clear the current page on selection entry panels and filter panels. | DS, DVOL, OVOL, LA, TVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| CLEAR PAGEx | CL PAGEx | Clear a page on selection entry panels and filter panels where x is the page number. | DS, DVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| COMPRESS | COM | Reclaim embedded unused space from a list of PDSs. | DS | DFSMSdss |
| COPY | COP | Copy a list of data sets to a DASD volume of like or unlike device type. | DS | DFSMSdss |
| DOWN n | DO n | Scroll forward the number of list entries specified by n. DOWN MAX scrolls to the bottom of the entries. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| DSUTIL | DSUTIL | Invoke PDF data set utility functions. | DS | DFSMSdfp |
| DUMP | DU | Dump data sets to tape, DASD, or mass storage volumes. | DS | DFSMSdss |
| END | END | Exit the current ISMF function or panel and return to the previous panel. | All | DFSMSdfp |
| ERTB | ER | Display the ISMF Error Table. | All | DFSMSdfp |
| FILTER | FIL | Tailor the list to include only specific entries. | DS, DVOL, LA | DFSMSdfp |
| FILTER CLEAR | FIL C | Clear the filter entries but bypass the entry panel. | DS, DVOL, LA | DFSMSdfp |
| FIND | FIN | Find a specific data column. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| FOLD | FO | Extend the data set name data column. | DS | DFSMSdfp |
| HELP | HELP | Request the help panels associated with the current panel. | All | DFSMSdfp |
| LEFT | L | Scroll left the specified number of columns. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| LIBRARY | LIBRARY | Invoke PDF library utility. | DS | DFSMSdfp |
| LISTPRT | LISTP | Prints generated or saved ISMF lists | All that can generate a list | DFSMSdfp |
| PROFILE | P | Invoke the ISMF profile. | All except the ISMF Profile Application, the ISMF Menu panel or an abend panel | DFSMSdfp |
| QSAVE | QS | Save query criteria | DS, DVOL | NaviQuest |
| QRETRIEV | QR | Retrieve query criteria | DS, DVOL | NaviQuest |
| REFRESH | REF | Display the updated list. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| RELEASE | REL | Free unused space at the end of each of the data sets in a list. | DS | DFSMSdss |
| RESHOW | RESH | Redisplay all list entries removed by the HIDE line operator. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| RESTORE | REST | Restore data sets that have been dumped by DFSMSdss. | DS | DFSMSdss |
| RETURN | RETURN | Return to the primary ISMF option menu. | All | DFSMSdfp |
| RIGHT | RI | Scroll right the specified number of columns. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| SAVE | SA | Save a copy of the current list in the ISPF output table. | All except ACS and CDS. | DFSMSdfp |
| SORT | SO | Organize lists based on entries in specific data columns. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| TOP | TOP | Scroll to the top of the entries. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| TSO Commands and CLISTs | Invoke TSO commands and CLISTs. | All | DFSMSdfp | |
| UP | U | Scroll backward the specified number of entries. UP MAX scrolls to the top of the entries. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| VALIDATE | V | Check the completeness and consistency of an entire SCDS. | CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| VIEW | VI | Choose the display order of the columns on list panels. | All except ACS and CDS | DFSMSdfp |
| Line Operator | Minimum Abbreviation | Description | Application | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABACKUP | AB | Specify the parameters for an ABACKUP command and issue the command to DFSMShsm. | AG | DFSMShsm |
| ALTER | AL | Change the name of a management class, storage class, use attribute, storage group, shelf location, or owner information (or any combination of these) for all volumes associated with a data set or change the use attributes of an SMS class or storage group. | DS, DC, SC, MC, SG, AG, LB, DV, TVOL, OVOL, TL, CP | DFSMSdfp |
| ANALYZE | ANAL | Examine the device or data on a volume to determine if any errors exist. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| AUDIT | AU | Verify the location of optical volumes in IBM® 3995 optical and automated tape libraries. | OVOL, LB, TVOL, TL | DFSMSdfp |
| BROWSE | B | View a sequential data set or a member of a PDS. | DS | DFSMSdfp |
| BUILDIX | BUI | Change a volume from MVS format VTOC(OSVTOC) to an indexed format VTOC(IXVTOC) or vice versa. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| CATLIST | CATLIST | Invoke IDAMS LISTCAT and browse the output. | DS | DFSMSdfp |
| CGCREATE | CGCREATE | Allow I/O activity to resume on the volumes residing in the logical subsystems receiving the command. | DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| CLIST | CLI | Call a TSO CLIST. | DS, DVOL, OVOL, TVOL, TL | DFSMSdfp |
| COMPRESS | COM | Reclaim embedded unused space from a PDS. | DS, DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| CONDENSE | CON | Free unused space at the end of a data set; compress a PDS. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| CONSOLID | CONS | Copy data from one DASD volume to another | DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| CONTROL | CONT | Reset a device that has been WRITE INHIBITed, reset an indefinite status condition, or clear a fence status of a path or a device or both. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| CONVERTV | CONV | Convert DASD volumes into SMS or out of SMS. | DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| COPY | COP | Copy one SMS class or storage group to another SMS class or storage group in the same or in a different SCDS; or copy a data set volume to a DASD volume. | DS, DVOL, DC, SC, MC, SG, AG, LB, DV, TL, CP | DFSMSdfp or DFSMSdss |
| DEFRAG | DEFR | Reduce free-space fragmentation on a DASD. volume | DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| DELETE | DEL | Delete an SMS class or storage group, or delete an online, backup, or DFSMShsm-migrated data set. | DS, DC, SC, MC, SG, AG, LB, DV, LA, TL, CP | DFSMSdfp or DFSMShsm |
| DISPLAY | DI | Display an SMS class and its attributes. | DC, SC, MC, AG, LB, DV, TL, CP | DFSMSdfp |
| DUMP | DU | Dump a data set or volume to tape or DASD. | DS, DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| EDIT | E | Edit a sequential data set or member of a PDS. | DS | DFSMSdfp |
| EJECT | EJ | Eject an optical or tape volume from a library. | OVOL, TVOL, TL | DFSMSdfp |
| ERASE | ERA | Delete an SMS class or storage group, or delete an online, backup, or DFSMShsm-migrated data set. | DS, DC, SC, MC, SG, AG, LB, DV, LA, CP | DFSMSdfp or DFSMShsm |
| HALTERDS | HA | Change the number of backup versions of a data set; change frequency of backup. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| HBACKDS | HBA | Create a backup version of a data set. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| HBDELETE | HBD | Delete backup versions of a data set. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| HDELETE | HDE | Delete a migrated data set. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| HIDE | HI | Remove a list entry from display. | All except ACS and CDS. | DFSMSdfp |
| HMIGRATE | HM | Migrate a data set to DFSMShsm level one or level two volume. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| HRECALL | HRECA | Recall a data set that has been migrated by DFSMShsm. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| HRECOVER | HRECO | Recover a backup version of a data set. | DS | DFSMShsm |
| INIT | INI | Initialize a volume. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| INSPECT | INS | Detect defects in volume track surface. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| INSTALL | INST | Install an HDA replacement and physical movement of IBM DASD. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| LIST | LI | Retrieve a list that was saved with the SAVE command. | LA | DFSMSdfp |
| LISTSYS | LISTS | List the systems associated with a given storage group. | SG | DFSMSdfp |
| LISTVOL | LISTV | List the volumes associated with a given storage group, optical library or tape library. | SG, LB, TL | DFSMSdfp |
| MESSAGE | MES | Display message text for the last operation performed on a list entry. | All | DFSMSdfp |
| PPRCOPY | PPRC | Allows synchronous copying of a DASD volume from one subsystem to another subsystem volume. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| RAUTH | RAUTH | Provide remote access codes. | DVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| RECOVER | REC | Recover a backup copy of all the objects on a primary or backup optical cartridge. | OVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| REFORMAT | REF | Change the volume serial number or owner ID of a volume. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| RELEASE | REL | Free unused space at the end of data sets. | DS, DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| REMAP | REM | Reconstruct inventory in a real IBM 3995 optical library. | LB | DFSMSdfp |
| REPEAT | = | Repeat the last operator command that was implemented. | All except ACS and CDS. | DFSMSdss DFSMSdfp |
| RESTORE | REST | Restore data sets that have been dumped by DFSMSdss. | DS, DVOL | DFSMSdss |
| REVAL | REV | Perform track validation of medial initialization. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| SECURITY | SE | Invoke a RACF® panel to protect data sets, storage classes, or management classes. | DS, SC, MC, LB, DV, TL | RACF |
| SETCACHE | SETC | Manage storage control characteristics. | DVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| STATUS | ST | Allows the display of up to 32 SMS and MVS volume statuses. | DVOL | DFSMSdfp |
| TRKFMT | TRKF | Performs track-related functions. | DVOL | ICKDSF |
| TSO Commands and CLISTs | Invoke TSO commands and CLISTs. | All | DFSMSdfp | |
| VTOCLIST | VTOCLIST | Invoke IEHLIST LISTVTOC. | DS | DFSMSdfp |