Switching to TSO/E command mode

There are two contexts for switching to TSO/E command mode:

You are in the z/OS® shell. You want to run TSO/E commands without shutting down any processes that might be running and without exiting the shell completely.
You are in subcommand mode and want to run TSO/E commands.

You can switch to TSO/E command mode to run TSO/E commands (such as OPUT or OGET). When the command line is empty, press the TSO function key. Any shell scripts or processes that were running when you pressed the function key continue to run.

Once you are in TSO/E command mode, the screen is in line mode and no function keys are active or displayed. A special prompt (not the typical TSO/E READY prompt) is issued:

OMVS - Enter a TSO/E command, or press PA1 to return to the shell.

When you complete your work in TSO/E command mode, press <PA1> to return to wherever you were before you entered TSO/E. You can resume your work in the shell or return to subcommand mode.