ISPF editor customization allows you to configure the editor to match your preferences and work style. Through editor profiles, you can set tab stops, configure indentation, enable auto-formatting, adjust display options, and customize editor behavior. This tutorial covers editor profiles, INDENT settings, TAB configuration, auto-formatting options, and how to save and manage your customizations.
Customizing the editor improves productivity by adapting it to your workflow. Understanding customization options helps you create an editing environment that suits your needs and makes editing more efficient.
Understanding Editor Profiles
Editor profiles store your customization settings and preferences.
What is an Editor Profile?
An editor profile is:
A collection of editor settings and customizations
Stored in your ISPF profile
Persists across sessions
Applied automatically when you use the editor
Customizable to match your preferences
Profile Contents
Editor profiles typically include:
Tab stop settings
Indentation configuration
Auto-formatting options
Display preferences
Editor behavior settings
Command defaults
Function key assignments
Accessing Profile Settings
To access profile settings:
Go to ISPF Settings (Option 0) from the Primary Option Menu
Select editor settings or profile options
Modify settings as needed
Save changes to your profile
INDENT Command
The INDENT command controls automatic indentation in the editor.
What is INDENT?
INDENT:
Controls automatic indentation behavior
Can be enabled or disabled
Automatically indents new lines based on context
Helps maintain consistent code formatting
Can be configured for different languages
Enabling INDENT
To enable automatic indentation:
Use the INDENT command on the command line
Or configure it through ISPF Settings
INDENT ON enables automatic indentation
INDENT OFF disables automatic indentation
INDENT Examples
Enabling INDENT:
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Command ===> INDENT ON
Disabling INDENT:
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Command ===> INDENT OFF
How INDENT Works
When INDENT is enabled:
New lines automatically inherit indentation from the previous line
Indentation can be adjusted based on language rules
Indentation depth can be configured
Helps maintain consistent code structure
INDENT Configuration
INDENT can be configured for:
Indentation depth (number of spaces or columns)
Language-specific indentation rules
Automatic indentation triggers
Indentation style preferences
TAB Settings
TAB settings control tab stop positions and tab behavior.
Understanding TAB Settings
TAB settings control:
Tab stop positions
Whether tabs insert spaces or tab characters
Tab display behavior
Tab alignment
Setting Tab Stops
To set tab stops:
Use the TAB command with column numbers
Or configure through ISPF Settings
Specify column positions for tab stops
Tab stops define where the cursor moves when you press Tab
TAB Command Examples
Setting tab stops at columns 8, 16, 24, 32:
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Command ===> TAB 8 16 24 32
Clearing tab stops:
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Command ===> TAB CLEAR
Tab Behavior Options
Tab behavior can be configured for:
Tab Character: Insert actual tab characters
Spaces: Insert spaces instead of tab characters
Tab Display: How tabs are displayed in the editor
Tab Expansion: Whether tabs expand to spaces
Common Tab Stop Configurations
Common configurations include:
COBOL: Tab stops at 8, 12, 16, 20, etc. (matching Area A and Area B)
General: Tab stops every 4 or 8 columns
Custom: Tab stops at specific columns for your needs
Auto-Formatting
Auto-formatting automatically formats code as you type or edit.
What is Auto-Formatting?
Auto-formatting:
Automatically formats code as you type
Applies consistent indentation and spacing
Can be language-specific
Helps maintain coding standards
Can be enabled or disabled
Auto-Formatting Features
Auto-formatting can include:
Automatic indentation
Spacing adjustments
Code alignment
Formatting rules based on language
Consistent style application
Enabling Auto-Formatting
To enable auto-formatting:
Configure through ISPF Settings
Enable formatting options
Set language-specific formatting rules
Configure formatting preferences
Auto-Formatting Configuration
Auto-formatting can be configured for:
Indentation style and depth
Spacing rules
Alignment preferences
Language-specific formatting
Formatting triggers
Other Customization Options
Additional customization options are available.
Display Options
You can customize:
Line number display
Column markers
Status line information
Color schemes (if supported)
Screen layout preferences
Editor Behavior
You can configure:
Auto-save options
Backup settings
Error handling behavior
Command defaults
Function key assignments
Language-Specific Settings
You can set:
Language-specific indentation
Formatting rules per language
Syntax highlighting (if supported)
Language-aware features
Customizing Through ISPF Settings
ISPF Settings (Option 0) provides a comprehensive interface for customization.
Accessing Settings
To access settings:
Select Option 0 (Settings) from the Primary Option Menu
Navigate to editor settings
Modify options as needed
Save changes
Settings Categories
Settings are typically organized into categories:
Editor display options
Editor behavior settings
Tab and indentation settings
Auto-formatting options
Profile management
Saving Settings
To save settings:
Make your changes in the Settings panel
Use the SAVE command or function key
Settings are saved to your ISPF profile
Changes persist across sessions
Customizing Through Commands
You can also customize the editor using commands.
Command-Line Customization
Many settings can be set using commands:
INDENT ON/OFF
TAB with column numbers
Other editor commands
Settings apply to current session
Can be saved to profile
Session vs. Profile Settings
Understanding the difference:
Session Settings: Apply only to current session
Profile Settings: Saved and persist across sessions
Command-line changes are typically session-only
Settings panel changes are saved to profile
Best Practices
Following best practices helps you customize effectively:
Start with Defaults: Begin with default settings and customize as needed
Test Customizations: Test customizations to ensure they work as expected
Save Important Settings: Save settings to your profile so they persist
Document Customizations: Keep notes on customizations for reference
Use Language-Specific Settings: Configure settings appropriate for your file types
Balance Features: Don't enable too many features that might conflict
Regular Review: Periodically review and adjust customizations
Backup Profile: Keep backups of your profile if possible
Common Customization Scenarios
Here are common scenarios for customizing the editor.
COBOL Editing Setup
For COBOL editing:
Set tab stops at 8, 12, 16, 20 (matching COBOL areas)
Configure INDENT for COBOL structure
Set BOUNDS to 1 72
Enable auto-formatting for COBOL
General Code Editing Setup
For general code editing:
Set tab stops every 4 or 8 columns
Enable INDENT for automatic indentation
Configure auto-formatting as needed
Set display preferences
Data File Editing Setup
For data file editing:
Configure tab stops for data alignment
Disable auto-formatting if not needed
Set appropriate display options
Configure for fixed-format data
Explain Like I'm 5: Editor Customization
Think of editor customization like setting up your workspace:
Editor Profile is like your personal workspace setup. You arrange everything the way you like it—where things go, how they look, how they work—and then you save it. Next time you come back, everything is exactly how you left it, like having your own special desk setup!
INDENT is like having an automatic helper that lines up your writing. When you start a new line, it automatically lines up with the line above it, like having a ruler that automatically positions your writing!
TAB Settings are like setting up special stopping points. When you press the Tab key, your cursor jumps to these special positions, like having marked spots on your paper where you always want to start writing!
Auto-Formatting is like having a helper that automatically makes your writing look nice. As you type, it automatically spaces things out, lines things up, and makes everything look consistent, like having an automatic formatter that makes your work look professional!
So editor customization is like setting up your workspace exactly how you want it, with helpers that make your work easier and more consistent!
Practice Exercises
Complete these exercises to reinforce your understanding of editor customization:
Exercise 1: Accessing Settings
Practice accessing settings: go to ISPF Settings (Option 0), explore editor settings, identify customization options, and understand how settings are organized. Build familiarity with the settings interface.
Exercise 2: Configuring INDENT
Practice configuring INDENT: enable and disable INDENT using commands, test automatic indentation, configure INDENT through settings, and observe how INDENT affects editing. Learn INDENT configuration.
Exercise 3: Setting Tab Stops
Practice setting tab stops: use the TAB command to set different tab stop configurations, test tab behavior, configure tabs through settings, and observe how tabs work. Master tab configuration.
Exercise 4: Auto-Formatting Configuration
Practice auto-formatting: explore auto-formatting options in settings, enable auto-formatting, test formatting behavior, and observe how auto-formatting affects your editing. Learn auto-formatting features.
Exercise 5: Creating a Custom Profile
Practice creating a custom profile: configure editor settings for your preferences, save settings to your profile, test the profile in a new session, and verify customizations persist. Create your ideal editor setup.
Test Your Knowledge
1. What is an ISPF editor profile?
A file type
A collection of editor settings and customizations
A command
A display option
2. What does the INDENT command control?
Line numbers
Automatic indentation
File saving
Text search
3. Where do you customize the ISPF editor?
Only in the editor
Through ISPF Settings (Option 0) or editor commands