Using special variables to invoke SDSF function

Much of the function that SDSF commands provide when you use SDSF interactively is supported in the REXX environment by special REXX variables.

The special variables use the following format:

The parameters for the variable are the same as for the associated command, with the exception that the ? parameter is not supported in REXX. The values of special variables are not saved across sessions (or invocations) in the REXX environment. The special variable names that begin with SDSF are affected by the PREFIX option of ISFEXEC or ISFACT, but no others are affected.

Special variable names are not case-sensitive.

Values specified with special variables do not have the 42-character (or, in the case of slash commands, 126-character) limit that commands entered with ISFEXEC have.

Where the variable is associated with an SDSF command, the parameters for the variable are the same as for the command, with the exception that the ? parameter is not supported in REXX. Substitute the variable for the command, for example:

To drop SDSF special variables (that is, unassign the variables and restore them to their original undefined state) use the ISFRESET() function. The option to use with ISFRESET corresponds to the variable type (Input, InOut or Output), indicated in the table. The variables for printing are all type Input. For more information, see Dropping special variables with ISFRESET.