ISMF Panel Concepts

ISMF is a panel-driven program for interacting in the DFSMS environment. ISMF is structured as a series of: (1) menu panels and data entry panels on which users indicate their selections; (2) output panels that display the results of the user-selected actions. Default values are provided on all data entry panels. You use selection numbers, commands, and program function keys to navigate through the panels. You can use either uppercase or lowercase characters to enter information into the input fields of the data entry panels.

All ISMF panels are formatted for use by the ISPF Dialog Manager. The standard screen is 24 lines deep and 80 characters wide.

The 31 by 160 format is actually a 31 by 160 window on a 62 by 160 screen.

Only list displays occur in these additional formats. The list panels shown in this book are in the standard 24 by 80 format. All ISMF panels other than lists are always in 24 by 80 format.

There are two basic types of ISMF panels: functional panels and help panels.

Functional panels enable you to display information about your applications and to do tasks. You can either fill in fields to select an application and indicate values, or enter commands in the command area of certain panels.

Help panels provide context-sensitive help for functional panels, usually task-oriented snapshot descriptions of functional panel data entry fields or application attributes. For a detailed description of these panel types, see Types of Functional Panels and Using the Three Types of Help Panels.