ISPF Dialog Manager

Overview
This course provides an understanding of the major components of ISPF dialogs and practice in constructing simple dialogs. Practicals take place throughout the course and each attendee will have a terminal.

Course objectives
On completion, attendees should be familiar with the facilities offered by ISPF Dialog Management and be capable of designing and implementing their own dialogs.

By the end of this course you will have learned
How to use ISPF to construct and debug dialogs which simplify the system interface for users.

Who should attend
Those interested in extending the functions of ISPF/PDF, in providing interactive ''front-ends'' to existing programs, or in implementing purpose-built dialogs.

Pre-requisites
Familiarity with the ISPF/PDF Editor and general programming principles. Knowledge of TSO, CLIST or REXX would be of use.

Course synopsis

• Dialog Management Concepts
• Elements in an ISPF Dialog
• Library requirements.
• Display Services
• Creating menus, panels and tutorials.
• Variable Services
• Creating and accessing shared, function and profile variable pools.
• Table Services
• Creating, updating and retrieving information stored in ISPF table format.
• File Tailoring Services
• Creating input to other processes, e.g. JCL or utility statement generation for batch submission.
• Message Services
• Creating and accessing ISPF "short" and "long" messages.
• ISPF Functions
• "Driving" the above services by TSO CLIST or a programming language.
• Dialog Testing
• Use of the ISPF/PDF dialog testing function to test and debug a developed dialog.