Functions (option 7.1)

The Functions option (7.1) allows you to test a dialog function without having to build supporting code or panels. Dialog functions include panels, command procedures, and programs. The name of the dialog function and the parameters you can pass are the same as those that you can specify from a dialog function when you call the SELECT service. When you press the Enter key, a SELECT service is called.

If you call a new function or selection panel at a breakpoint, the previous function or selection panel is suspended and the new one is processed. When the new activity finishes, the Invoke Dialog Function/Selection Panel is displayed. The old activity resumes when you enter the END command. When the function that was called originally finishes processing, the Invoke Dialog Function/Selection Panel is displayed again.

When you select the Functions option, the scrollable panel shown in Figure 1 is displayed to allow you to specify the dialog function that you want to test. Press F8=Forward to display the rest of the panel.

Figure 1. Invoke Dialog Function/Selection panel (ISPYFP)

   Menu  Utilities  Compilers  Options  Status  Help
  ┌─────────────────────────────── Dialog Test ────────────────────────────────┐
  │   Menu  Save  Utilities  Help                                              │
  │ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────  │
  │                  Invoke Dialog Function/Selection Panel                    │
  │                                                               More:     +  │
  │ Invoke selection panel:                                                    │
  │    PANEL  . .                                                              │
  │    OPT  . . .                                                              │
  │                                                                            │
  │                                                                            │
  │ Invoke command:                                                            │
  │    CMD  . . .                                                              │
  │                                                                            │
  │    LANG . . .                       (APL, CREX, or blank)                  │
  │    MODE . . .                       (LINE, FSCR, or blank)                 │
  │                                                                            │
  │ Invoke program:                                                            │
  │    PGM  . . .                                                              │
  │    PARM . . .                                                              │
  │ Command ===>                                                               │
  │  F1=Help        F2=Split       F3=Exit        F4=Expand      F5=Rfind      │
  │  F6=Resize      F7=Backward    F8=Forward     F9=Swap       F10=Actions    │
  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

There are two alternate Invoke Dialog Function/Selection panels, ISPYFPA and ISPYFPB. ISPYFPA is formatted with the most often used fields at the top of the scrollable area. ISPYFPB is similar, but it has a selection field for panel, command, program, or request selection. Unlike panel ISPYFP and ISPYFPA, when you use ISPYFPB the panel, command, program, and request selection fields can all contain values.

You can specify one of the alternate panels using the ISPF Configuration utility. See z/OS ISPF Planning and Customizing for more information.

One of the advantages of placing dialog panels in pop-up windows is that you can move the pop-up within the 3270 physical display area to reveal portions of the underlying panel.

See z/OS ISPF Dialog Developer's Guide and Reference for instructions on how to move a pop-up window.