Abstract for TSO/E Primer

This information supports z/OS® (5650-ZOS).

Purpose of this information

This information is an introduction to TSO/E. Its objective is to teach you how to do basic tasks using TSO/E. z/OS TSO/E User's Guide gives more detail about these tasks and also includes more complex tasks.

Who should use this information

New users of TSO/E should read this information. It assumes that you have no experience using TSO/E, you have little or no programming experience, and you know how to use a computer terminal.

Because computer terminals vary, we do not include specific information about them. If you do not know how to use your terminal, be sure to learn about it before trying the exercises in this information. The exercises were tested on an IBM® PC 3270 display terminal.

How this information is organized

This information starts with information about how to begin a TSO/E session. It continues with overviews of several TSO/E environments and basic tasks you can do in those environments. Exercises throughout the information reinforce how to do the basic tasks.

The chapters and their purposes are as follows:

Introduction gives a definition of TSO/E and describes three TSO/E environments.
Beginning a TSO/E session describes how to use the LOGON command with a user ID and password to begin a TSO/E session. It also describes how to use the LOGOFF command to end the session.
Using panels helps you to recognize various kinds of panels, enter panel commands, use program function (PF) keys, and scroll through information that exceeds the screen size.
Using the Information Center Facility introduces the Information Center Facility and describes how to use various types of panels, use * to get a list, use the tutorial and help panels, and exit the Information Center Facility.
Using ISPF/PDF gives a very brief overview of how ISPF/PDF helps a TSO/E user and describes how to use the ISPF/PDF tutorial and exit ISPF/PDF.
Using line mode TSO/E describes how to type simple TSO/E commands, respond to the symbol ***, use the attention interrupt key, and type a question mark (?) for more information about a message.
Using data sets defines the different types of data sets and data set naming rules and conventions. It then shows how to create, display, edit, and delete a data set in ISPF/PDF, and how to create and delete a data set in line mode TSO/E.
Sending data to a printer or to another user describes how to use the Information Center Facility to print data sets, how to use ISPF/PDF to print data sets and screen images, and how to use line mode TSO/E to print data sets, send and receive messages, and send and receive data sets.
Tips and techniques describes ways to work more effectively with panels, tips for editing material, how to fix common problems for panels, and techniques to use in line mode TSO/E.
Information Center Facility standard services gives a brief description of the services offered by the Information Center Facility.
PF keys summary is a summary of the PF key functions and equivalent commands.

How to use this information

This information describes standard procedures and uses standard panels as examples. Installations often customize TSO/E environments. Thus the way you log on, the panels you see, and other procedures at your installation might be different from the ones described in this information. Consult your installation's documentation if you encounter problems performing the tasks described here.