B, BK—Specify a Before destination

When data is to be moved or copied, the B (before) line command specifies the line before which the data is to be placed. When data is to be moved or copied to multiple destinations, the B (before) line command specifies the final destination line before which the data is to be placed.

When data is to be moved or copied to multiple destinations, the BK (before, multiple targets) line command specifies each multiple destination line (apart from the final destination line) before which the data is to be placed.

Syntax


>>-+-B--+--+---+-----------------------------------------------><
   '-BK-'  '-n-'

n: A number that tells the ISPF editor to repeat the associated line command a specified number of times. If you do not type a number, or if the number you type is 1, the command is not repeated. For associated primary commands, this number has no effect.

Description

To specify that data is to be moved, copied, or inserted before a specific line:

Type one of the commands that are listed in this table. Line commands are typed in the line command field. Primary commands are typed on the command line.

Table 1. Line and primary commands for B
Line commands Primary commands
C—Copy Lines COPY—Copy Data
M—Move Lines MODEL—Copy a Model into the Current Data Set
MOVE—Move Data
To specify a single destination for the data that is to be moved or copied, type B in the line command field of the line that the moved or copied data is to precede. If you are specifying the destination for a line command, a number after the B line command specifies the number of times the other line command is performed. However, a number after the B command has no affect on a primary command.
To specify multiple destinations for the data that is to be moved or copied:
1. Type BK in the line command field of each line (apart from the final destination) that the moved or copied data is to precede.
2. Type B in the line command field of the final line that the moved or copied data is to precede.
Press Enter.
Some of the commands in the preceding table can cause another panel to be displayed if more information is needed. If so, fill in the required information and press Enter to move, copy, or insert the data. See the information about the specified command if you need help.
If no panel is displayed, the data is moved, copied, or inserted when you press Enter in step 3.

You must always specify a destination except when you are using a primary command to move, copy, or insert data into a member or data set that is empty.

Two other line commands that are used to specify a destination are the A (after) command and the O (overlay) command. See A, AK—Specify an After destination and O, OK—Overlay Lines for more information.

Examples

Figure 1 shows how you can copy data with the C and B line commands. Type C in the line command field of the line you want to copy. Type B in the line command field of the line that the copied line precedes.

Figure 1. Before the B (Before) line command

When you press Enter, the line where you typed the C command is moved before the line where you typed the B command, as shown in Figure 2.

Note:

If you press Enter before specifying where you want the data to go, the editor displays a MOVE/COPY pending message at the top of the panel. The line does not move until you specify a destination.
The BK line command indicates that another destination of the form A, B, or O is still required proceeding forward through the file before the data is moved or copied to the multiple destinations specified.

Figure 2. After the B (Before) line command