Generating Reports from ISPF Lists: Exporting, Saving, Printing
Generating reports from ISPF lists allows you to create formatted output from list displays for documentation, analysis, and distribution. ISPF provides capabilities to export, save, and print list data, enabling you to generate reports from various list displays. Understanding report generation helps you create professional output from your data. This tutorial covers exporting list data, saving lists to datasets, printing lists, and report formatting techniques.
ISPF lists display data in tabular format, and you can extract this data to create reports. Exporting and saving list data preserves information for later use, while printing creates physical or electronic output. This tutorial provides practical guidance for generating reports from ISPF lists.
Understanding ISPF Lists
ISPF lists display data in tabular format.
What are ISPF Lists?
ISPF lists are tabular displays that show:
Dataset member lists
Search results
Utility output
System information
Other tabular data
List Characteristics
ISPF lists typically include:
Rows and columns of data
Headers and labels
Sorting and filtering capabilities
Selection options
Export and save capabilities
Exporting List Data
Exporting extracts list data for external use.
Using EXPORT Command
To export list data:
Display the ISPF list
Type EXPORT on the command line
Specify destination dataset
Set export options
Execute the export
Export Options
Export options may include:
Dataset name and format
Record format (FB, VB, etc.)
Record length
Include/exclude headers
Delimiter options
Exporting Selected Rows
To export selected rows:
Use line commands to select rows
Mark rows for export
Use EXPORT for selected rows
Only selected data is exported
Saving List Data
Saving list data creates datasets for later use.
Using SAVE Command
To save list data:
Display the ISPF list
Type SAVE on the command line
Enter destination dataset name
Specify save options
Execute the save operation
Example: Save list to dataset
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Command ===> SAVE 'USERID.REPORTS.LISTOUT'
Save Options
Save options include:
Dataset name and attributes
Record format
Include headers option
Formatting options
Overwrite or append options
Saving Filtered Lists
To save filtered data:
Apply filters to the list
Display filtered results
Use SAVE command
Only filtered data is saved
Printing Lists
Printing creates formatted output from lists.
Using PRINT Command
To print a list:
Display the ISPF list
Type PRINT on the command line
Set print options
Execute the print command
Output is sent to printer or destination
Print Options
Print options include:
Destination (printer, SYSOUT, dataset)
Page format and layout
Header and footer options
Number of copies
Formatting options
Printing Selected Data
To print selected data:
Select rows using line commands
Use PRINT for selected rows
Only selected data is printed
Useful for partial reports
Report Formatting
Formatting options improve report appearance.
Header and Footer Options
Header and footer options include:
Report title
Date and time stamps
Page numbers
Column headers
Custom text
Column Formatting
Column formatting options:
Column alignment
Column width
Number formatting
Text formatting
Column separators
Page Layout
Page layout options:
Page size and orientation
Margins
Line spacing
Font selection
Character set
Generating Formatted Reports
Creating professional formatted reports.
Report Generation Process
To generate a formatted report:
Display or filter the list data
Apply formatting options
Save or export the formatted data
Print or distribute the report
Archive the report if needed
Multi-Step Report Generation
For complex reports:
Export list data to dataset
Process data with utilities or programs
Format the processed data
Generate final report
Print or distribute
Common Report Scenarios
Common scenarios for report generation.
Member List Reports
To generate member list reports:
Display PDS member list
Filter or sort as needed
Save or export the list
Format and print
Use for documentation
Search Result Reports
To generate search result reports:
Perform search operation
Review search results list
Export search results
Format as report
Distribute findings
Utility Output Reports
To generate utility output reports:
Run utility operation
View utility output list
Save output to dataset
Format and print
Archive for reference
Best Practices
Following best practices improves report quality:
Filter Before Exporting: Filter data to include only relevant information
Use Meaningful Names: Use descriptive dataset names for saved reports
Format Consistently: Use consistent formatting across reports
Include Headers: Include headers for clarity
Document Reports: Document report purpose and contents
Archive Reports: Archive important reports for future reference
Verify Data: Verify exported data is correct
Test Formats: Test report formats before distribution
Explain Like I'm 5: Generating Reports
Think of generating reports like making a summary of your toys:
ISPF Lists are like a list of all your toys written on a whiteboard. You can see all your toys listed in rows and columns. It's like having a big list that shows everything you have!
Exporting is like copying the list from the whiteboard onto paper. You take the information from the screen (whiteboard) and save it to a file (paper) so you can keep it or use it later. It's like making a copy of your toy list!
Saving is like putting your copied list in a special folder. You save the list data to a dataset (folder) so you can find it later, share it with others, or use it for something else. It's like filing your toy list in a folder!
Printing is like making a paper copy of your list. You print the list so you have a physical copy you can hold, share, or keep. It's like printing your toy list on paper!
Formatting is like making your list look nice. You add colors, organize it neatly, add a title, and make it easy to read. It's like decorating your toy list to make it look professional!
So generating reports is like taking information from a list on the screen, copying it, saving it, formatting it nicely, and printing it so you have a professional report!
Practice Exercises
Complete these exercises to reinforce your report generation skills:
Exercise 1: Export List Data
Practice export: export data from an ISPF list, understand export command, verify exported data, and learn basic exporting. Master basic exporting.
Exercise 2: Save List to Dataset
Practice save: save an ISPF list to a dataset, understand save options, verify saved dataset, and learn saving. Master saving lists.
Exercise 3: Print List
Practice print: print an ISPF list, understand print options, verify print output, and learn list printing. Master list printing.
Exercise 4: Export Filtered Data
Practice filter: filter a list, export filtered data, understand filtered export, and learn selective exporting. Master filtered exporting.
Exercise 5: Generate Formatted Report
Practice format: generate a formatted report from list data, apply formatting options, create professional report, and learn report formatting. Master report generation.