Using the jump function

The jump function allows you to go directly to any valid option from the primary option menu currently in effect. See z/OS ISPF Dialog Developer's Guide and Reference for information about coding primary option menus. To use the jump function, enter the option on the command line or in the command field of any panel, preceded by an equal sign and followed by a blank. For example: 
Command ===> =3.1
takes you directly to the first suboption of option 3 on the primary option menu in effect.
The action is as follows:
  • If not entered on a primary option menu, the jump function causes repeated END commands to be simulated until a primary option menu is encountered. What follows the equal sign is then used on the primary option menu, and pressing of the Enter key is simulated. The primary option menu is not displayed.
  • If entered on a primary option menu, the jump function equal sign is ignored and the specified option is selected.
Unlike the RETURN command, the jump function is not affected by nested dialogs. For example, from the ISPF Edit option, you enter a HELP command to enter the tutorial. Then from the tutorial, you enter =1. This causes the tutorial to end, Edit to end, and primary option 1 to be started.
For convenience, you can enter a jump function in two other places:
  • Any field that is preceded by an arrow. The arrow must consist of at least two equal signs followed by a greater-than sign (==>). Also, the arrow must immediately precede the input attribute byte.
  • Any field preceded by leader dots (that is, ... or . .). ISPF looks at the three characters preceding the field; they must be either three consecutive dots or two dots separated by a blank.

The command field is the only field that can be initialized to =n by the dialog and have the jump function recognize it. Modifying the ZCMD field in the )PROC or )INIT section can affect jump function operation.

If ISPF encounters an error during jump function processing, the processing stops with the jump function in error displayed on the command line, unless that function was entered from a nondisplay field.

Because a jump request generally signals a user's desire to end the current processing, the dialog developer must limit processing to cleaning up and completing processing before returning control to the selection in the jump request. Otherwise, the dialog developer can cancel the jump request/return mode by providing two consecutive displays with the same panel name.

The jump function can be entered with the RETURN command or RETURN function key. For example, you type =2 and then press the RETURN function key rather than pressing Enter. The result is the same as if you had typed =2 and pressed Enter.

See Using the Exit option (X) with the jump function for more information.