Use the STFSMODE macro to set full-screen mode on. This macro prevents unexpected non-full-screen messages from overlaying the screen. For example, unexpected messages from the operator or from other TSO/E users could cause incorrect input to be sent to the command processor. Also, STFSMODE prevents full-screen messages from overlaying unexpected non-full-screen messages before the user has a chance to read them.

To prevent unnecessary protection of the screen contents, specify INITIAL=YES when you use the STFSMODE macro. If you specify INITIAL=YES and the first message is a full-screen message, TSO/VTAM does not display three asterisks at the terminal (which would require the user to press the Enter key). TSO/VTAM sets the INITIAL keyword indicator to NO after the command processor sends the first full screen of information. For subsequent full screens of output that follow non-full screens of output, TSO/VTAM displays the three asterisks at the terminal before processing the full-screen output. For a description of the processing that takes place when INITIAL=YES and INITIAL=NO, see Examples of Full-Screen command processor Operation.