Using function keys

Under ISPF, function keys are not automatically assigned to special functions. You equate each function key to a character string. When you press a function key, it simulates command entry. The processing is the same as if you had typed the character string in the command field and pressed the Enter key.

Note: On a 3270 display, the horizontal divider line that separates the logical screens is not considered part of either logical screen. If the cursor is placed on this horizontal divider line and a function key is pressed, the result is the same as if the ENTER key was pressed and the cursor is positioned on the active logical screen's command line.

A dialog function cannot distinguish the difference between a command entered by a function key and a command entered by typing in the command field. If the character string with which the function key is equated is longer than the screen's command field, the string is truncated without warning.

If you type information on the command line and then press a function key, the function key definition, followed by a blank, is concatenated ahead of the contents of the command field. For example, suppose F7 is equated to the character string UP. If you type 4 in the command field and then press F7, the results are exactly the same as if you had typed UP 4 in the command field and pressed the Enter key.

ISPF does not require function keys for its operation. Commands can be entered in the command field of any display, including View, Browse, Edit, and Table Display. However, for ease of use, function keys are strongly recommended.

The default function key assignments distributed with ISPF for the 3x4 key pad on the right side of the keyboard are shown in the next table. These are function keys 1-12 on a 12-key terminal or keys 13-24 on a 24-key terminal.

Table 1. Function key arrangement
Function key	Function
F1	HELP
F2	SPLIT
F3	END
F4	RETURN
F5	RFIND
F6	RCHANGE
F7	UP
F8	DOWN
F9	SWAP
F10	LEFT
F11	RIGHT
F12	RETRIEVE

Function keys can be displayed at the bottom of a panel. Using the FKA or PFSHOW command, you can display either the long or short form of the keys, or remove the keys from the panel. See ISPF system commands for a complete description of how to display or remove the function keys.

For panels defined without the )PANEL section, the long and short form of the function key area is the same. If you use a )PANEL section, you can use the KEYLIST command or the "Keylist settings" choice from the Function keys pull-down on the ISPF Settings panel to determine which keys appear in each form. For more information on Keylist settings, see the Settings (Option 0) topic of the z/OS ISPF User's Guide Vol II.

Long

Displays the keys that appear in the short form along with all other keys you indicated should appear for the long form. The long form is the default. An example of the long form follows:

Option ===>                                                                   
  F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      F7=Backward  F8=Forward   F9=Swap
 F10=Actions  F12=Cancel

Short

Displays the keys that appear in the short form. An example of the short form follows:

Option ===>                                                                   
  F1=Help      F3=Exit     F10=Actions  F12=Cancel

No

Removes the function key area, making the space available for the application. The keys are still active but are not displayed.