Repeat, Convert, and Translate Commands

ISPF provides several commands for transforming text: TR (Translate) for character-by-character translation, Xlate for advanced translation operations, and CAPS for case conversion. These commands are essential for standardizing text, converting case, and performing character transformations. This tutorial covers TR, Xlate, CAPS, and related text transformation commands with detailed examples and use cases.

Understanding text transformation commands helps you efficiently modify text formatting, convert case, and perform systematic character replacements. These commands are particularly useful when working with code, data files, or when standardizing text formats.

Understanding Text Transformation

Text transformation commands modify characters or text formatting without changing the structure of your file.

Types of Transformations

Common transformations include:

• Case Conversion: Converting between uppercase and lowercase
• Character Translation: Replacing one set of characters with another
• Character Mapping: Mapping characters from one set to another
• Encoding Conversion: Converting between character encodings

When to Use Transformations

Use text transformations when:

• Standardizing text case
• Converting character sets
• Replacing special characters
• Preparing data for specific formats
• Fixing case inconsistencies

TR Command (Translate)

The TR command translates characters from one set to another using character-by-character mapping.

Basic TR Syntax

Basic syntax:

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TR fromset toset

Where fromset is the characters to find, and toset is the characters to replace them with.

TR Requirements

TR has specific requirements:

• The fromset and toset must be the same length
• Each character in fromset maps to the corresponding character in toset
• TR operates on the entire file or specified line range
• Character mapping is position-based

TR Example: Case Conversion

Converting lowercase to uppercase:

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Command ===> TR abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

This translates all lowercase letters to their uppercase equivalents.

TR Example: Character Replacement

Replacing specific characters:

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Command ===> TR /\

This translates all forward slashes (/) to backslashes (\\).

TR Example: Multiple Characters

Translating multiple character pairs:

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Command ===> TR .-

This translates all periods (.) to hyphens (-).

TR with Line Ranges

You can specify line ranges for TR:

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Command ===> TR 10 20 abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

This converts lines 10 through 20 to uppercase.

TR Character Mapping

TR works by character position:

• Position 1 in fromset maps to position 1 in toset
• Position 2 in fromset maps to position 2 in toset
• And so on for all positions
• Each occurrence of a character in fromset is replaced with the corresponding character from toset

TR Limitations

TR has some limitations:

• Sets must be the same length
• Character-by-character only (not pattern-based)
• No support for multi-character replacements
• May require long character sets for complex mappings

CAPS Command

The CAPS command converts text to uppercase.

Basic CAPS Syntax

Basic syntax:

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CAPS
CAPS startline endline

Without line numbers, CAPS converts the entire file. With line numbers, it converts the specified range.

CAPS for Entire File

To convert the entire file to uppercase:

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Command ===> CAPS

This converts all text in the file to uppercase.

CAPS for Line Range

To convert specific lines to uppercase:

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Command ===> CAPS 10 20

This converts lines 10 through 20 to uppercase.

CAPS Example

Before CAPS:

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     000001  This is Mixed Case Text
     000002  Some lowercase text
     000003  SOME UPPERCASE TEXT

After "CAPS":

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     000001  THIS IS MIXED CASE TEXT
     000002  SOME LOWERCASE TEXT
     000003  SOME UPPERCASE TEXT

When to Use CAPS

Use CAPS when:

• Standardizing code to uppercase
• Converting data to uppercase format
• Fixing case inconsistencies
• Preparing text for case-sensitive operations

Xlate Command

Xlate (or XLATE) is an advanced translation command with additional capabilities.

Xlate Overview

Xlate provides:

• Character translation capabilities
• Advanced mapping options
• Support for various transformations
• Encoding conversions

Xlate Syntax

Xlate syntax varies by ISPF version. Common forms include:

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XLATE fromset toset
XLATE option parameters

Xlate Capabilities

Xlate may support:

• Case conversion
• Character set translation
• Encoding conversions
• Custom mapping tables
• Line range specifications

Xlate Usage

Consult your ISPF documentation for exact Xlate syntax and capabilities, as it varies by version.

Converting to Lowercase

Converting text to lowercase requires using TR or other methods.

Using TR for Lowercase

To convert to lowercase using TR:

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Command ===> TR ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

This translates all uppercase letters to lowercase.

Lowercase for Line Range

To convert specific lines to lowercase:

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Command ===> TR 10 20 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

This converts lines 10 through 20 to lowercase.

Other Lowercase Methods

Some ISPF versions may have:

• LOWERCASE command
• MIXED command for mixed case
• Other case conversion commands

Check your ISPF documentation for available commands.

Common Transformation Scenarios

Here are common scenarios for using text transformations.

Standardizing Code Case

When standardizing code to uppercase:

• Use CAPS to convert entire files or sections
• Use TR for specific character conversions
• Ensure consistency across the codebase
• Verify that case changes don't break functionality

Converting Character Sets

When converting between character sets:

• Use TR with character mappings
• Map each character from source to target set
• Verify the conversion is correct
• Test with sample data first

Fixing Case Inconsistencies

When fixing case inconsistencies:

• Use CAPS to standardize to uppercase
• Use TR to convert to lowercase
• Apply transformations to specific sections as needed
• Review results to ensure correctness

Preparing Data for Processing

When preparing data:

• Use transformations to match required formats
• Convert case as needed for downstream systems
• Replace special characters as required
• Ensure data format compliance

Best Practices

Following best practices helps you use text transformation commands effectively:

• Save Before Transforming: Save your work before performing transformations
• Test on Small Sections: Test transformations on small sections before applying to entire files
• Verify TR Character Sets: Ensure TR character sets are the same length
• Review Results: Always review transformation results
• Use Line Ranges: Use line ranges to limit transformations to specific sections
• Understand Case Sensitivity: Be aware of case sensitivity in your code or data
• Check ISPF Version: Verify available commands for your ISPF version
• Use CANCEL If Needed: Use CANCEL to undo transformations if you make mistakes (before saving)

TR vs CAPS vs Xlate

Understanding when to use each command.

Use TR When

Use TR when:

• You need character-by-character translation
• You want to replace specific characters
• You need custom character mappings
• You're converting between character sets

Use CAPS When

Use CAPS when:

• You need simple uppercase conversion
• You want to convert entire files or sections
• You need a straightforward case conversion
• You're standardizing code to uppercase

Use Xlate When

Use Xlate when:

• You need advanced translation capabilities
• You're working with encoding conversions
• You need features beyond basic TR
• Your ISPF version supports Xlate features you need

Error Prevention

Preventing errors when using transformation commands.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Mismatched TR Sets: Ensure TR character sets are the same length
• Case Sensitivity Issues: Be aware of how case changes affect code or data
• Unintended Transformations: Verify transformations don't affect unintended text
• Not Saving First: Save before transformations so you can CANCEL if needed
• Wrong Line Ranges: Double-check line ranges before executing

Recovery Strategies

If you make mistakes:

• Before Saving: Use CANCEL to discard transformations
• After Saving: You may need to manually undo or use reverse transformations
• Partial Mistakes: Apply reverse transformations to fix specific sections
• Prevention: Always test on small sections first

Explain Like I'm 5: Text Transform Commands

Think of text transform commands like magic tools that change how letters look:

• TR (Translate) is like a magic translator. You tell it "change all 'a' letters to 'A' letters!" and it goes through your whole story and changes every 'a' to 'A'. It's like having a magic wand that changes specific letters to other letters!
• CAPS is like a "make everything BIG" button. When you press CAPS, all the small letters become big letters! It's like having a button that makes everything SHOUT in capital letters, turning "hello" into "HELLO"!
• Xlate is like a super-smart translator that can do lots of different translations. It's like having a really smart helper that can change letters in many different ways, not just one simple change!
• Character Mapping is like having a secret code. You say "when you see 'A', change it to 'B', and when you see 'C', change it to 'D'!" It's like having a translation book that tells you how to change each letter!

So text transform commands are like magic tools that change how letters and words look in your file—making them big, small, or changing them to different letters!

Practice Exercises

Complete these exercises to reinforce your understanding of text transformation commands:

Exercise 1: Using CAPS

Practice using CAPS: create a test file with mixed case text, use CAPS to convert the entire file to uppercase, use CAPS with line ranges to convert specific sections, and observe the results. Build familiarity with case conversion.

Exercise 2: Using TR for Case Conversion

Practice using TR for case conversion: use TR to convert lowercase to uppercase, use TR to convert uppercase to lowercase, practice with different character sets, and verify the transformations are correct.

Exercise 3: Using TR for Character Replacement

Practice using TR for character replacement: use TR to replace specific characters (like / to \\, or . to -), practice with different character mappings, and observe how TR works character-by-character.

Exercise 4: Line Range Transformations

Practice transformations on line ranges: use CAPS and TR with line ranges to transform specific sections, practice limiting transformations to certain lines, and verify that only the specified ranges are affected.

Exercise 5: Real-World Scenarios

Practice real-world scenarios: standardize code case, fix case inconsistencies, convert character sets, and prepare data for specific formats. Apply transformations to practical editing tasks.

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