Using a double-byte character set (DBCS)

If you want to display or enter double-byte data, you must:
  • Work at a terminal that is configured to generate data in code page IBM-939 and follow the procedures for the terminal emulator being used, if any.
  • Specify special LOGMODEs to access TSO/E and VTAM® support for DBCS. Typically the systems programmer sets them up and provides you with instructions.
  • Run the TSO/E PROFILE PLANGUAGE(JPN) command, if required, to receive Japanese-language messages from the OMVS interface to the shell. Do not change your PROFILE PLANGUAGE when temporarily switched to TSO/E from the shell. After you invoke the shell, OMVS will not change the language of the messages it issues until you exit the shell and return to TSO/E, change your PROFILE PLANGUAGE, and reinvoke OMVS.
  • Use the null translate table (the default) for character conversion. You do not need to specify the CONVERT keyword on the OCOPY, OGET, OGETX, OPUT, and OPUTX commands.
  • Access the shell using the OMVS command with the DBCS keyword, the default setting.
  • Define a single-byte escape character for typing an escape sequence, if you do not use the default ¢.

The shell utilities (for example, grep and ed) work with DBCS data in the file system and can be used to create DBCS data in the file system.