Preview Using a daily planning application under ISPF to conveniently manage and maintain a to-do calendar list was a brilliant idea, especially in the 1980’s, before the availability of personal digital assistants (e.g. PalmPilot or Newton MessagePad)! On CBTTAPE.ORG, CBT231 contains such an application named TASKLIST written by Joe Veilleux from APC contributed circa 1985. Download CBT231 for reference and…
Stubborn JES2 in MVS38J
My Experience… Over the years of using the public domain version of MVS 3.8J (e.g. tk3 or tk4-8), I encountered a halt state during the overall MVS shutdown process. The purpose of this post is to share my resolutions when JES2 encounters a ‘holding’ state when attempting to normally terminate (bring down) MVS 3.8J. Before continuing, it is suggested obtaining…
VSI in MVS38J
Overview VSI – VSAM Information ISPF add-on for MVS38J / Hercules(current version 0.9.00 2023-11-15) VSI provides a function to display VSAM file information on one screen as an ISPF add-on. The single display screen offers a HELP screen, but has no other processing options. This original tool (VI) has been rewritten as a TSO CLIST for MVS 3.8J and ISPF…
CATMGT in MVS38J
Overview CATMGT – Catalog Management ISPF Add-on for MVS 3.8J TSO / ISPF / Hercules(current version 0.9.01 2023-11-15) While searching for miscellaneous MVS information, I stumbled across an article from the early 1980s that described the CATLOG Management function as a TSO/ISPF option. Although limited in the use of IDCAMS commands utilized by the option, I decided to embark on…
Tutorials for ISPF v2.2 / MVS 3.8J
Overview Tutorials for ISPF v2.2 / MVS 3.8J using LBTUTOR(current version 0.9.01 2023-11-15) Based on various ISPF manuals, while using ISPF, the HELP function is triggered by PF1/PF13 (default PF keys) to display additional information about a displayed message or transition into a tutorial mode displaying a help (tutorial) panel and/or a series of help panels. The term help and…
Using ISPF v2.2 with MVS 3.8J
Overview The current ISPF-like product from Wally Mclaughlin enhances the MVS 3.8J / TSO landscape on your personal mainframe! Like with any other hobbyist / enthusiasts designing, developing, testing and distributing developer tools / utilities, one must finalize on what features and/or functions to offer end users for a particular release. The focus may center on previously used tools behavior…
LBTUTOR in MVS38J
Overview LBTUTOR– ISPFv2.2 Tutorial Utility for MVS38J / Hercules(current version 0.9.02 2024-07-01) ISPF 2.2 from Wally Mclaughlin is a great addition to MVS 3.8J TSO providing an ISPF-like environment on you personal mainframe. ISPTUTOR allows help panels to provide help tutorials for ISPF applications when defined and arranged in a special manner. Under the real-ISPF, the HELP function integrates with…
ISPFPAP-n-CLGLST
Overview The CLGLST (ISPF v2.2 LOG / LIST alternative add-on) requires a task to execute after an ISPF user session is terminated (e.g. =X from ISPF) to process LOG and LIST datasets based on user set defaults. With the introduction of ISPFPAP (ISPF Autoexec-type alternative add-on), the application offers consolidated launch (trigger) points for pre-ISPF and post-ISPF processing. The CLGLST…
ISPFPAP-n-CALISPF
Overview The CALISPF (ISPF Calendar alternative add-on) requires a task to execute before an ISPF user session is started to initialize calendar variables stored in the users profile. With the introduction of ISPFPAP (ISPF Autoexec-type alternative add-on), the application offers consolidated launch (trigger) points for pre-ISPF and post-ISPF processing. The CALISPF pre-ISPF requirement can optionally be integrated into the ISPFPAP…
ISPFPAP in MVS38J
Overview ISPFPAP – Pre-ISPF and Post-ISPF Processing on MVS 3.8J TSO / ISPF / Hercules(current version 0.9.01 2024-07-01) When ISPF v2.2 (ISPF-like product from Wally Mclaughlin) is installed on MVS 3.8J, the command ISPF is used to start ISPF under TSO as listed in ISPF v2.2 installation documentation. ISPF v2.2 can be started using various command syntax as referenced in…