Using the file-tailoring services

The file-tailoring services, listed in the order they are normally invoked, are:
FTOPEN
Prepares the file-tailoring process and specifies whether the temporary file is to be used for output
FTINCL
Specifies the skeleton to be used and starts the tailoring process
FTCLOSE
Ends the file-tailoring process
FTERASE
Erases an output file created by file tailoring.

File-tailoring services read skeleton files and write tailored output that can be used to drive other functions. Frequently, file tailoring is used to generate job files for batch execution.

The file-tailoring output can be directed to a file specified by the function, or it can be directed to a temporary sequential file provided by ISPF. The file name of the temporary file is available in system variable ZTEMPF. In MVS™, ZTEMPF contains a data set name. The ddname of the temporary file is available in system variable ZTEMPN.

You can use the ISPFTTRC command to trace both the execution of file tailoring service calls (FTOPEN, FTINCL, FTCLOSE, and FTERASE) and the processing that occurs within the file tailoring code and processing of each statement. For more information, refer to File tailoring trace command (ISPFTTRC).