Utility Functions Menu & Specialized Functions

ISPF provides specialized utility functions for dataset and member management beyond the main utilities. These include Compress utility for PDS maintenance, Print Index for member directory listings, Member Info for detailed member information, and other specialized operations. This tutorial covers the utility functions menu, Compress utility, Print Index, Member Info, and other specialized utility functions.

Understanding specialized utility functions helps you maintain datasets efficiently, obtain detailed information, and perform advanced operations. These functions complement the main utilities and provide capabilities for specific maintenance and information-gathering tasks.

Utility Functions Menu

Specialized utility functions are accessed through the utility functions menu.

Accessing Utility Functions

Utility functions may be accessed:

• From the utility selection panel (Option 3)
• As separate utility options (3.5, 3.6, etc.)
• Through utility submenus
• Depending on ISPF version and configuration

Common Utility Functions

Common specialized functions include:

• Compress: PDS compression and space recovery
• Print Index: Member directory printing
• Member Info: Detailed member information
• Compare: Dataset and member comparison
• Validate: Dataset validation
• Other specialized operations

Compress Utility (Option 3.5)

The Compress utility reorganizes PDS datasets to recover unused space.

What is Compress?

Compress:

• Reorganizes partitioned datasets (PDS)
• Removes fragmentation from deleted members
• Recovers unused space
• Makes space available for new members
• Improves PDS efficiency
• Does not affect member content

Why Compress is Needed

Compress is needed because:

• Deleting members creates fragmentation
• Fragmented space cannot be reused efficiently
• PDS may appear full even when space exists
• New members may fail to allocate even with available space
• Regular compression maintains PDS health

Accessing Compress

To access Compress:

• Select Option 3 from the Primary Option Menu
• Select Option 5 from the utility selection panel
• Or type "3.5" directly
• The Compress Utility panel appears

Using Compress

To compress a PDS:

• Enter the dataset name of the PDS to compress
• Specify compress options if available
• Execute the compress operation
• Compress reorganizes the PDS
• Space is recovered and made available

Compress Example

Compressing a PDS:

1
2
Compress Utility
Data Set Name . . . . . USERID.SOURCE.COBOL

Compress Behavior

When Compress executes:

• PDS is reorganized
• Fragmentation is removed
• Unused space is recovered
• All members remain intact
• Member content is not modified
• Operation may take time for large PDS

When to Compress

Compress when:

• You've deleted many members
• PDS appears full but should have space
• New member allocation fails unexpectedly
• You want to optimize PDS space usage
• Regular maintenance is needed

Print Index

Print Index creates a printed directory listing of PDS/PDSE members.

What is Print Index?

Print Index:

• Creates a printed listing of all members
• Shows member names and attributes
• Provides a snapshot of library contents
• Is useful for documentation and auditing
• Can be printed or saved to a dataset

Print Index Information

Print Index typically includes:

• Member names
• Member sizes
• Creation dates
• Modification dates
• User information
• Other member attributes

Using Print Index

To use Print Index:

• Access Print Index function (varies by ISPF version)
• Enter the dataset name
• Specify print options
• Execute the print operation
• Index is printed or saved

Print Index Example

A typical print index output might look like:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Member Index for USERID.SOURCE.COBOL
 
Name      Size    Created      Modified     User
MEMBER1   00150   2024/01/15   2024/01/20   USER01
MEMBER2   00200   2024/01/16   2024/01/18   USER01
MEMBER3   00080   2024/01/17   2024/01/17   USER02
...

Member Info

Member Info displays detailed information about specific members.

What is Member Info?

Member Info:

• Shows detailed member attributes
• Displays member metadata
• Provides member history information
• Shows size and date information
• Helps understand member characteristics

Member Info Display

Member Info typically shows:

• Member name
• Dataset name
• Member size (records, bytes)
• Creation date and time
• Modification date and time
• User who created/modified
• Version information (for PDSE)
• Other member attributes

Using Member Info

To view member info:

• Access Member Info function
• Enter dataset and member name
• Press Enter
• Detailed member information is displayed

Member Info Example

A typical member info display might show:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Member Information
 
Data Set: USERID.SOURCE.COBOL
Member:   MEMBER1
Size:     150 records (12,000 bytes)
Created:  2024/01/15 10:30:00
Modified: 2024/01/20 14:45:00
Created By: USER01
Modified By: USER01
Version: 1 (PDSE)

Other Specialized Functions

Additional specialized utility functions may be available.

Compare Functions

Compare functions may include:

• Member comparison
• Dataset comparison
• Side-by-side difference display
• Change identification

Validation Functions

Validation functions may include:

• Dataset structure validation
• Member integrity checking
• Attribute verification
• Error detection

Analysis Functions

Analysis functions may include:

• Space analysis
• Member statistics
• Usage patterns
• Growth trends

Function Availability

Note that:

• Not all functions may be available in every installation
• Functions may have different option numbers
• Some functions may require special authorization
• Check your utility selection panel for available functions

Best Practices

Following best practices helps you use utility functions effectively:

• Compress Regularly: Compress PDS datasets regularly to maintain efficiency
• Use Print Index for Documentation: Use Print Index to document library contents
• Check Member Info: Use Member Info to understand member characteristics
• Understand Function Purposes: Know what each function does before using it
• Verify Results: Verify that functions completed successfully
• Use Appropriate Functions: Choose the right function for your task
• Document Operations: Keep notes on utility function usage
• Schedule Maintenance: Schedule regular PDS compression

Common Scenarios

Here are common scenarios for using utility functions.

PDS Maintenance Scenario

For PDS maintenance:

• Delete unused members
• Use Compress to recover space
• Verify space is recovered
• PDS is now optimized

Documentation Scenario

For documentation:

• Use Print Index to create member directory
• Save or print the index
• Use for library documentation
• Maintain records of library contents

Member Investigation Scenario

For investigating members:

• Use Member Info to view member details
• Understand member history
• Check creation and modification dates
• Identify member characteristics

Explain Like I'm 5: Utility Functions

Think of utility functions like special tools for taking care of your files:

• Compress is like cleaning up and organizing a messy filing cabinet. When you throw away some files, the cabinet gets messy with empty spaces. Compress is like reorganizing everything so all the empty space is together and ready to use. It's like tidying up so you can fit more files!
• Print Index is like making a list of everything in your filing cabinet. You write down all the file names, when they were created, how big they are, and other information. Then you can print this list or save it, so you have a record of everything in your cabinet!
• Member Info is like looking at a detailed label on a file. It tells you everything about that specific file—when it was made, when it was last changed, who made it, how big it is, and other details. It's like having a super-detailed file label!

So utility functions are like special tools that help you take care of your files (datasets and members), organize them, get information about them, and keep everything running smoothly!

Practice Exercises

Complete these exercises to reinforce your understanding of utility functions:

Exercise 1: Using Compress

Practice compressing: identify a PDS that needs compression, use Compress utility to compress it, verify space was recovered, and understand compress operations. Learn PDS maintenance.

Exercise 2: Print Index

Practice print index: use Print Index function to create member directory listings, understand the information displayed, save or print indexes, and learn documentation techniques. Master index creation.

Exercise 3: Member Info

Practice member info: use Member Info function to view detailed member information, understand member attributes, check member history, and learn to interpret member data. Master member information viewing.

Exercise 4: Exploring Functions

Practice exploring: identify available utility functions in your ISPF installation, understand what each function does, test functions on sample datasets, and build familiarity with specialized functions. Learn available capabilities.

Exercise 5: Maintenance Workflow

Practice maintenance: perform a complete PDS maintenance workflow (delete members, compress, verify), use utility functions in combination, and understand maintenance best practices. Master maintenance operations.

Related Concepts