Special variables reference
Table 1 shows the special REXX variables, with the exception of the variables for printing, which are shown in Printing output.
| Variable | Type | Associated Command | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISFACTIONS | Input | SET ACTION | Controls the display of action characters for current panel | Action characters and optional descriptions are returned in the ISFRESP stem variables. |
| ISFAPPC | Input | APPC | Controls the display of APPC transactions | |
| ISFCMDLIM | Input | Slash (/) | Limits the number of commands that may be issued through ISFSLASH | |
| ISFCKLIM | Input | SET CKLIM | Sets the maximum number of instances of a check to display on the CKH panel | |
| ISFCMODE | Input | SET CMODE | Sets the mode for sysplex communication | |
| ISFCOLOR | Output | Stem variable containing the color of each line. The possible values are the first letters of the colors Red, Green, Blue, White, Yellow, Turquoise, Pink. | OPERLOG only | |
| ISFCOLS | InOut | Input: sets the list of columns to be returned Output: contains list of columns that are returned |
Limits the columns (and so the variables) that are created | |
| ISFCOLS2 | InOut | Input: sets the list of columns to be returned for a secondary
panel Output: contains the list of columns that are returned for a secondary panel |
Limits the columns (and so the variables) that are created | |
| ISFCOLUMNGROUPS | Output | Lists column grouping information for the columns listed in the ISFCOLS variable. | ||
| ISFCONMOD | Input | SET CONMOD | Controls the automatic modification of the extended console name when SDSF needs to activate a console (for issuing system commands and for the ULOG) and the default console name is in use | |
| ISFCONS | Input | SET CONSOLE | Sets the console name | If you have disabled console modification, you should change the console name when running a REXX exec while running SDSF interactively, to avoid an activation failure because the console is already in use. |
| ISFDATE | Input | SET DATE | Sets the date format for input on special variables | Does not affect the date format for returned stem variables |
| ISFDCOLS | Output | Contains the list of delayed access columns for the panel | ||
| ISFDCOLS2 | Output | Contains the list of delayed access columns for the secondary panel | ||
| ISFDDNAME | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the system-generated DDNAME of an allocated SYSOUT data set. ISFDDNAME.0 contains a count of the number of variables that follow. | Set in response to a browse allocation action character, such as SA and SJA | |
| ISFDELAY | Input | SET DELAY | Sets the response delay limit for system commands | |
| ISFDESCODE | Stem variable containing the descriptor codes for each line. When there are multiple descriptor codes, they are returned in a list, separated by blanks. | OPERLOG only | ||
| ISFDEST | Input | DEST | Sets the destinations to be used for filtering | Allows up to four destinations, with each being up to the maximum acceptable length for a destination |
| ISFDIAG | Output | Intended for use by IBM® service personnel | See Diagnosing errors in a REXX exec. | |
| ISFDISPLAY | Output | Contains the SET DISPLAY response for tabular panels | ||
| ISFDISPLAYMODE | Input | SET DISPLAY | Sets the format of the ISFDISPLAY special variable | The value OFF is not valid with REXX. |
| ISFDSNAME | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the application-specified data set name (that is, the data set name as shown on the Job Data Set panel). Corresponds to the DDNAME listed in ISFDDNAME. The variables have a one-to-one correspondence with the ISFDDNAME stem variables. ISFDSNAME.0 contains a count of the number of variables that follow. | Set in response to a browse allocation action character, such as SA and SJA | |
| ISFDUPDS | Input | SET DUPDS | Controls whether duplicate SYSOUT data sets are included when browsing or printing | |
| ISFFILTER | Input | FILTER | Sets filter criteria | Use column names rather than column titles. Supported with tabular panels. |
| ISFFILTER2 | Input | FILTER | Sets filter criteria for a secondary panel | Use column names rather than column titles. |
| ISFFILTERMODE | Input | FILTER | Sets the relationship between filters | |
| ISFFILTERMODE2 | Input | FILTER | Sets the relationship between filters for a secondary panel | |
| ISFFIND | Input | FIND | String to be found (up to 255 characters). | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. |
| ISFFINDENDCOL | Input | FIND | Column in which the string specified with ISFFIND must end. | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. |
| ISFFINDLIM | Input | FINDLIM | Maximum number of lines to search for the string specified with ISFFIND. 1000 to 9999999. | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. |
| ISFFINDSTARTCOL | Input | FIND | Column in which the string specified with ISFFIND must start. | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. |
| ISFFIRSTLINEDATE | Output | Date associated with the first line that was returned. | Use when browsing the log. | |
| ISFFIRSTLINEDSID | Output | Data set identifier of the data set associated with the first line that was returned. | Use when browsing. Not valid with OPERLOG. | |
| ISFFIRSTLINEJOBID | Output | Job ID associated with the first line that was returned. | Use when browsing the SYSLOG. | |
| ISFFIRSTLINERECNO | Output | Record number within the data set of the first line that was returned. | Use when browsing. Not valid with OPERLOG. | |
| ISFFIRSTLINETIME | Output | Time associated with the first line that was returned. | Use when browsing the log. | |
| ISFFIRSTLINETOKEN | Output | Token corresponding to the first line of the data that was returned. | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. | |
| ISFHIGHLIGHT | Output | Stem variable containing the highlighting of each line. The possible values are the first letters of Blink, Reverse, Underline and None. | OPERLOG only | |
| ISFINPUT | Input | INPUT | Controls which data sets will be returned | |
| ISFINTENSITY | Output | Stem variable containing the intensity of each line. The possible values are the first letters of High and Low. | OPERLOG only | |
| ISFJESNAME | Input | Sets the JES subsystem to be processed | Equivalent to the value specified on the JESNAME option of the SDSF command (JES2 only). | |
| ISFJES3NAME | Input | Sets the JES subsystem to be processed | Equivalent to the value specified on the JES3NAME option of the SDSF command (JES3 only). | |
| ISFLASTLINEDATE | Output | Date associated with the last line that was returned. | Use when browsing the log. | |
| ISFLASTLINEDSID | Output | Data set identifier of the data set associated with the last line that was returned. | Use when browsing. Not valid with OPERLOG. | |
| ISFLASTLINEJOBID | Output | Job ID associated with the last line that was returned. | Use when browsing the SYSLOG. | |
| ISFLASTLINERECNO | Output | Record number within the data set of the last line that was returned. | Use when browsing. Not valid with OPERLOG. | |
| ISFLASTLINETIME | Output | Time associated with the last line that was returned. | Use when browsing the log. | |
| ISFLINE | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the result of a browse request. ISFLINE.0 contains a count of the number of variables that follow. | Use when browsing the log or a check. | |
| ISFLINELIM | Input | Limits the number of ISFLINE stem variables that may be created. The valid range is 0-99999999. A value of zero indicates no limit. | If the variable is not defined or null, there is no limit. | |
| ISFLOGSTARTTIME | Input | Specifies the starting time for records returned by the ISFLOG command, in hh:mm:ss.th format. Only hh:mm is required. This is the local time corresponding to the first record to be returned. | If the variable is not defined or the value is null, the starting time is 00:00:00.00. | |
| ISFLOGSTARTDATE | Input | Specifies the starting date for records returned by the ISFLOG command, in the current date format or either of these formats: yyyy.ddd or yy.ddd. | The default is the current day. | |
| ISFLOGSTOPTIME | Input | Specifies the ending time for records returned by the ISFLOG command, in hh:mm:ss.th format. Only hh:mm is required. This is the local time corresponding to the last record to be returned. | If the variable is not defined or the value is null, the ending time is 23:59:59.99. | |
| ISFLOGSTOPDATE | Input | Specifies the ending date for records returned by the ISFLOG command, in the current date format or either of these formats: yyyy.ddd or yy.ddd. | The default is the current day. | |
| ISFLRECL | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the logical record length for the allocated data set and corresponds to the DDNAME listed in ISFDNAME. ISFLRECL.0 contains a count of the number of variables that follow. | ||
| ISFMSG | Output | Contains the SDSF short message, if any, set on the completion of each request | Check at the completion of each request. | |
| ISFMSG2 | Output, Stem | Stem variable that is set to any numbered messages that may
have been issued in response to the request. ISFMSG2.0 contains the
count of message variables that follow. The message variables contain the oldest message first. |
Check at the completion of each request. | |
| ISFNEXTLINETOKEN | Output | Token corresponding to the next unread line of the data. It is null when an end-of-file condition is encountered. | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. | |
| ISFOWNER | Input | OWNER | Sets the owner to be used for filtering | Use the default SDSF generic characters unless you change them with the ISFSCHARS variable. |
| ISFPREFIX | Input | PREFIX | Sets the job name prefix to be used for filtering | Uses the default SDSF generic characters unless you change them with the ISFSCHARS variable. |
| ISFPRTBLKSIZE | Input | Block size for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTCCASA | Input | SET PRTCCASA | Sets how SDSF handles carriage control for printing | Use with ISFPRTRECFM. |
| ISFPRTCLASS | Input | SYSOUT class | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTCOPIES | Input | Copies class | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTDATACLAS | Input | Data class for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTDDNAME | Input | DDNAME | Use with XF and XFC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTDEST | Input | Destination | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTDIRBLKS | Input | Number of directory blocks for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTDISP | Input | Allocation disposition for data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTDSNAME | Input | Data set name. If the name is not enclosed in quotation mark, the name begins with the current user ID. | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTFCB | Input | FCB | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTFORMDEF | Input | FORMDEF | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTFORMS | Input | Forms | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTLRECL | Input | Logical record length | Use with XD, XDC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTMEMBER | Input | Member name | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTMGMTCLAS | Input | Management class for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTOUTDESNAME | Input | Output descriptor name to be used when creating the file | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTPAGEDEF | Input | PAGEDEF | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTPRIMARY | Input | Primary space allocation for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTPRTMODE | Input | Process mode | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTRECFM | Input | Record format | Use with XD, XDC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTSECONDARY | Input | Secondary space allocation for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTSOURCEATTS | Input | Whether to use attributes of the source for printing | Use with the XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTSPACETYPE | Input | Space units for allocating for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTSTORCLAS | Input | Storage class for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTUCS | Input | UCS | Use with X, XC, XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTUNIT | Input | Unit for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTVOLSER | Input | Volume serial for new data sets | Use with XD and XDC action characters. | |
| ISFPRTWRITER | Input | Writer name | Use with the XS and XSC action characters. | |
| ISFRCOLS | Output | Contains a list of columns with related fields | Related fields are sets of related columns, such as SFORMS and SFORM2-8 on the Printer panel. | |
| ISFRCOLS2 | Output | Contains a list of columns with related fields for a secondary panel | ||
| ISFRECFM | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the record format for the allocated data set and corresponds to the DDNAME listed in ISFDDNAME. ISFRECFM.0 contains a count of the number of variables that follow. | ||
| ISFRESP | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains responses from commands. ISFRESP.0 contains the count of the response variables that follow. | Commands such as WHO use the ISFRESP stem variables to provide the command response. | |
| ISFROWS | Output | Contains the number of rows created by a request for a tabular panel | Equivalent to the zero stem for each of the column variables | |
| ISFROWS2 | Output | Contains the number of rows created by a request for a secondary panel | Equivalent to the zero stem for each of the column variables | |
| ISFSCHARS | Input | SET SCHARS | Sets the generic and placeholder characters to be used in pattern matching | |
| ISFSCROLL | Input | Scrolling commands | Repositions the first line of data that is returned | Use when browsing with ISFBROWSE or ISFLOG. |
| ISFSCROLLTYPE | Input | Scrolling commands | Repositions the first line of data that is returned | Use with ISFSCROLL. |
| ISFSECTRACE | Input | SET SECTRACE | Controls tracing of SDSF security | Use with ISFMSG2 or ISFULOG. |
| ISFSERVER | Input | Obsolete as of z/OS V2R3. Only a single SDSF address space can be active at a time. | Corresponds to the SERVER option on the SDSF command | |
| ISFSORT | Input | SORT | Sets the sort criteria | Use the column names instead of the column titles. To sort using the fixed field, assign the value to null. |
| ISFSORT2 | Input | SORT | Sets the sort criteria for a secondary panel | Use the column names instead of the column titles. To sort using the fixed field, assign the value to null. |
| ISFSTARTLINETOKEN | Input | Starting line for the data to be returned. | Specify this value by setting the variable to either ISFFIRSTLINETOKEN or ISFNEXTLINETOKEN. | |
| ISFSYSID | Input | SYSID | Specifies the member to be processed by the ISFLOG command | |
| ISFSYSNAME | Input | SYSNAME | Sets the system name to be used for filtering sysplex requests | Use the default SDSF generic characters unless you have changed them with the ISFSCHARS variable. |
| ISFTIMEOUT | Input | SET TIMEOUT | Sets the response timeout value for sysplex requests | JES2 only |
| ISFTITLES | Output | Contains the column titles associated with the variables that are returned | The titles are listed in the same order as the column names in the ISFCOLS variable. Titles are enclosed by single quotation marks and separated by blanks. | |
| ISFTITLES2 | Output | Contains the column titles associated with the variables that are returned for the secondary panel | The titles are listed in the same order as the column names in the ISFCOLS2 variable. Titles are enclosed by single quotation marks and separated by blanks. | |
| ISFTLINE | Output | Contains the title line from the tabular panel | The title line frequently contains dynamic data related to the panel being accessed. The format of the data may vary and is subject to change at any time. | |
| ISFTRACE | Input | TRACE | Sets the trace option to be used when enabling SDSF trace | This variable is intended to be used for the trace option since two trace commands are necessary to enable tracing. However, any operand acceptable to the trace command will be accepted for this variable. |
| ISFTRMASK | Input | TRACE | Sets the trace mask to be used when enabling SDSF trace | This variable is intended to be used for a trace mask since two trace commands are necessary to enable tracing: one to enable trace and the other for the mask. However, any non-blank operand acceptable to the trace command will be accepted for this variable. This variable is ignored if the value is null. |
| ISFUCOLS | Output | Contains the list of modifiable columns for the panel | Contains the columns defined as modifiable, but you may not necessarily be authorized to modify them. Authorization is not determined until you attempt to modify a column. | |
| ISFUCOLS2 | Output | Contains the list of modifiable columns for the secondary panel | Contains the columns defined as modifiable, but you may not necessarily be authorized to modify them. Authorization is not determined until you attempt to modify a column. | |
| ISFULOG | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the MVS system command echo and any responses generated during the session, including SAF authorization messages. The ISFULOG.0 stem variable contains a count of the variables that follow. | The ISFULOG stem variables are formatted in the same manner
as the ULOG panel. Use the WAIT option on the ISFACT command to ensure that the command responses are available in the ISFULOG stem variable. |
|
| ROWACTIVE | Output, Stem | Stem variable that indicates whether the object (for example, the job or the printer) is active. The value is either Y (active) or N (inactive). ROWACTIVE.0 contains a count of the number of stem variables that follow. | ||
| SDSFCOLLEN | Output | Contains the lengths of column data in SDSFROW | ||
| SDSFCOLCOUNT | Output | Contains the number of values associated with the column | ||
| SDSFCOLSTART | Output | Contains the starting positions of column data in SDSFROW | ||
| SDSFCOLUMNGROUPS | Output | Lists column grouping information for the columns | Like ISFCOLUMNGROUPS, but affected by the PREFIX option and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFDCOLS | Output | Contains the list of delayed columns for the panel | Like ISFDCOLS, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFFILTER | Input | Sets filter criteria | Like ISFFILTER, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFFILTERMODE | Input | Sets the relationship between filters | Like ISFFILTERMODE, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFICOLS | Input | Sets the list of columns to be returned | Like ISFCOLS, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFOCOLS | Output | Contains list of columns that are returned | Like ISFCOLS, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFRCOLS | Output | Contains the list of columns witih related fields for the panel | Like ISFRCOLS, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFROW | Output, Stem | Stem variable that contains the data when you use the COMPACT option when accessing a panel | ||
| SDSFSORT | Input | Sets the sort criteria | Like ISFSORT, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFTITLES | Output | Contains the column titles associated with the variables that are returned | Like ISFTITLES, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any | |
| SDSFUCOLS | Output | Contains the list of modifiable columns for the panel | Like ISFUCOLS, but affected by the PREFIX option, and applies to the last secondary panel, if any |