ISPF Shortcuts & Power Tips

Once you have mastered the basics of ISPF, the next step is speed. Mainframe professionals often pride themselves on how quickly they can navigate screens, edit code, and manage jobs. This guide reveals the "power user" features—shortcuts, command stacking, and personalization options—that can dramatically increase your productivity.

The "Jump" Function (=)

The single most useful shortcut in ISPF is the Jump function. Normally, to go from the Editor (Option 2) to Utilities (Option 3), you would have to press F3 (Exit) to go back to the main menu, then select Option 3.

With the Jump function, you can go directly there.

• Syntax: =Option.Suboption
• Example: Type =3.4 from any ISPF panel to jump straight to the Data Set List Utility.
• Example: Type =X to exit ISPF completely.
• Example: Type = (by itself) to jump to the Primary Option Menu.

Think of the = as "Go to Main Menu, then select...".

Managing Multiple Screens

Why work on one task at a time when you can work on 32? ISPF allows you to have multiple logical screens active simultaneously.

SPLIT and SWAP

• SPLIT (F2): Splits the screen horizontally at the cursor position. If you move the cursor to the top and press F2, it often creates a whole new screen layer on top of the current one.
• SWAP (F9): Cycles focus between your active screens.
• SWAP NEXT / SWAP PREV: Commands to move through the list of screens.
• SWAP LIST: Displays a popup list of all active screens so you can choose one.

The SWAPBAR

Modern ISPF includes a taskbar-like feature.

1
Command ===> SWAPBAR ON

This displays a list of active screens at the bottom of your terminal. If your terminal emulator supports mouse clicks, you can click these tabs to switch screens.

Personal Lists (Reflist)

Tired of typing long dataset names like 'SYS1.PROD.COBOL.SOURCE'? ISPF Personal Lists allow you to save these names.

Using REFLIST in Option 3.4

1. Go to Option 3.4.
2. Instead of typing a dataset name, leave it blank and look at the menu bar at the top.
3. Select Reflist > Reference List (or type REFLIST in the command line).

You can create named lists (e.g., "MYPROJECT", "SYSTEMLIBS"). When you select a list, its datasets are populated into the DSLIST view.

Refmode

You can set REFMODE to "List" or "Execute".

• List: Opens the list so you can choose an item.
• Execute: Immediately performs the action (like listing the dataset) on the saved item.

Command Retrieval

You probably know that F12 (usually) is RETRIEVE, bringing back your last command. But there's a better way.

NRETRIEV (New Retrieve)

System programmers often map a key (like F12) to NRETRIEV instead of standard RETRIEVE.

• Standard RETRIEVE: Brings back the last command text.
• NRETRIEV: Brings back the command and typically preserves the cursor position or context more effectively depending on settings.

DSLIST (3.4) Power Tips

The Data Set List utility is where most users live.

The Repeat Command (=)

If you have a list of datasets and you want to browse five of them:

• Type B next to the first one.
• Type = next to the second, third, fourth, and fifth.
• Press Enter.

ISPF will process the first 'B', show you the file. When you F3 (Exit), it immediately opens the second one, and so on.

The Command Prompt (/)

Not sure what the full syntax for a line command is? Type / in the line command area. ISPF will pop up a window showing the dataset name and letting you type a long command string (like a TSO command) to run against it.

Editor Shortcuts

• CUT and PASTE: ISPF has its own clipboard. CUT saves lines to a clipboard (default is named DEFAULT). PASTE inserts them. You can have named clipboards: CUT .ZA .ZB MYCLIP.
• CREATE and REPLACE: Like Cut/Paste but to/from files. CREATE .A .B NEWMBR saves lines A through B to a new member.
• MODEL: Type MODEL to insert code templates (e.g., JCL skeletons).

Explain Like I'm 5: Shortcuts

Imagine you are walking through a giant school (the Mainframe).

• Normal way: To go from Math class (Option 2) to the Cafeteria (Option 3), you have to walk back to the main hallway (Menu) and then walk to the Cafeteria.
• Jump (=) way: You have a teleporter! You just type =3 and poof—you appear in the Cafeteria instantly.
• Split Screen: You can clone yourself! One of you stays in Math class, and the other you goes to the Cafeteria. You can swap bodies (F9) instantly to check on both.
• Reflist: It's like a "Favorites" bookmark list for your books, so you don't have to search the library every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Exercises

Practice these shortcuts to build muscle memory:

• Exercise 1 (Jump): From the editor, type =3.4 to go to DSLIST. Then type =2 to go back to Edit.
• Exercise 2 (Multi-screen): Open a new screen with SPLIT (F2). Navigate to a different utility. Use SWAP (F9) to toggle between them. Try SWAPBAR ON.
• Exercise 3 (Reflist): In Option 3.4, create a personal list named "MYWORK" and add two dataset names to it. Close 3.4, reopen it, and load your list.

Related Concepts