When you select "List Data set characteristics" from the Log/List pull-down on the ISPF Settings panel action bar, the panel shown in Figure 1 is displayed to allow you to specify the characteristics of the records to be contained in the list data set when it is defined. You can specify the record format, the logical record length, and the line length to be printed. When the characteristics are reset, their new values take effect at once unless the list data set has already been allocated. In that case, the new values are used for the next list data set allocation. These values are saved in your user profile, which ISPF automatically builds and maintains across sessions.

Specifications for logical record length and line length values can affect truncation of lines written to the list data set by a LIST service request. See the description of the LIST service in z/OS ISPF Services Guide for more information.

   Log/List  Function keys  Colors  Environ  Workstation  Identifier  Help
 ─ ┌───────────── ISPF Settings ─────────────┐ ────────────────────────────────
   │     List Data Set Characteristics       │
   │                                         │                      More:     +
 O │ Record Format . . . . . . 1  1. FBA     │ t Graphics
   │                              2. VBA     │ mily printer type 2
   │ Logical record length . . 121           │ vice name . . . .
   │ Line length . . . . . . . 120           │ pect ratio  . . . 0
   │                                         │
   │                                         │
   │  F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      │ ral
   │  F7=Backward  F8=Forward   F9=Swap      │ put field pad . . B
   └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ mmand delimiter . ;
   /  Jump from leader dots
      Edit PRINTDS Command
   /  Always show split line
      Enable EURO sign
   /  Scroll member list

 Terminal Characteristics
   Screen format   2  1. Data    2. Std     3. Max     4. Part
 Command ===> LISTDSC
  F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      F7=Backward  F8=Forward   F9=Swap
 F10=Actions  F12=Cancel

The fields on this panel are described here:

Record Format

The record format specifies the format and characteristics of the records in the list data set. The allowable record formats are:

FBA

Fixed-length records that contain ANSI-defined printer control characters

VBA

Variable-length records that contain ANSI-defined printer control characters.

The default setting is FBA.

Logical Record Length

The logical record length specifies the length, in bytes, of fixed-length records or the maximum length allowed for variable-length records. The default value is 121. This value represents one ANSI-defined control character and 120 bytes of data to be printed.

Line Length

The line length specifies the length of the logical line to be printed. If the specified line length is greater than the logical record length of the list data set, data is truncated. The range of allowable lengths is from 80 bytes to 160 bytes. The default value is 120.

The information supplied by the parameters allows for the printing of panels whose line lengths would not otherwise be supported by the available printing facilities.

For example:

• If a panel to be printed is 160 bytes wide but printing capabilities allow only 132 bytes, you should specify:

  RECFM

  FBA or VBA

  Line Length

  130

  LRECL

  132 (allows for two ANSI-defined control characters).

  The first page of output would contain the first 130 bytes of the panel. The second page would contain the last 30 bytes. This technique is referred to as the cut and paste method of printing.

• If a panel to be printed is 132 bytes wide and the printer supports this line length, you should specify:

  RECFM

  FBA or VBA

  Line Length

  132

  LRECL

  133 (allows for one ANSI-defined control character).

  The entire panel would be printed on one page of output.

• If a panel to be printed is 80 bytes wide, ISPF uses the default values for the LIST parameters. The entire panel would be printed on one page of output.