How to create an ISPF panel library?

[Walls, Lucious G.]

Hello List:

I'm attempting to create a dialog panel for the first time. I'm having
problem allocating the library that will contain my panel definitions. When
I issue the command - libdef ispplib dataset id('user.panels') on the -
Invoke Dialog Service screen (ISPF option 7.6), I get the error message -

ISPD014

Data set not cataloged
'USER.PANELS' was not found in catalog.

I realize that I must issue an allocate command to create the 'user.panels'
library but I don't know which operands and values to use on the ALLOCATE
command. Can someone send me an example or explain to me the correct way to
create a user ISPF panel library? We're using ISPF Version 5.0 at how
installation.

Thanks,

Lucious Walls
SPAWAR ITC (Washington)
asi...@bupers.navy.mil
703-693-3036 DSN 223-3036

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[Gary]

One easy way is this:

Locate an existing Panel Library - remember the name
go to ISPF Screen 3.2
go to the 'Data Set Name' line and enter the name of the library you found.
Enclose the name in quotes.
Hit enter (of course)
After the next screen pops up (Data Set Information), hit PF3 to return to
the 3.2 Screen
Now, on that same 'Data Set Name' line replace the name of the library you
found with the name of the library you wish to allocate ("User.Panels"). Do
not forget to enclose this name in Quotes.
Go to the 'Option' line at the top of the panel and enter an 'A' (allocate
new data set)
Hit enter.
You will now get the 'Allocate New Data Set' Panel.
Verify the settings (volume (if necessary, in non-SMS environments), space
units, Primary Quantity, Secondary Quantity, Directory Blocks, etc...).
Most likely you can leave this information alone.
Then once everything is to your liking, Hit Enter. Bingo. The library will
be created for you.

The only problem you would encounter is if the HLQ of the new panel library
was not authorized or it would be cataloged in the master catalog and you
did not have update access to the master catalog.

This method allows one to use an existing dataset's attributes as the model
for a new dataset.

HTH

[J P]

I take the easy way out, myself, and copy an existing library, allowing the
system to ask me if I want it allocated the same as the source... answer
yes, and Bob's yer uncle! Then go kill all the members you don't want, of
course....
Joe

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[Walls, Lucious G.]

Gary:

It worked! I've done this before in the past to create data sets but I
hadn't thought about doing this on this occasion. I'm sure it was because I
also hadn't thought to locate an existing Panel Library. Thanks a lot for
your advise.

Regards,

Lucious.

HTH

To: TSO-...@VM.MARIST.EDU
Subject: How to create an ISPF panel library?

[Harrington, Mark]

was there something prohibiting you from just putting your panel in your jcl
lib and pointing to that ?

[Walls, Lucious G.]

Mark,

It was nothing prohibiting me from just putting my panel in my JCL LIB. I
simply hadn't thought about doing that. I was so focused on creating a
dialog panel for the first time that I overlooked the obvious and simple
solutions of allocating a data set. I guess I couldn't see the forest for
the trees.

[Frank Clarke]

On 30 Apr 2003 13:33:46 -0700, ASI...@BUPERS.NAVY.MIL (Walls, Lucious
G.) wrote:
<995A6D76EE35D611B0C...@persnet-dc-fs4.bupers.navy.mil>

>I'm attempting to create a dialog panel for the first time. I'm having
>problem allocating the library that will contain my panel definitions. When
>I issue the command - libdef ispplib dataset id('user.panels') on the -
>Invoke Dialog Service screen (ISPF option 7.6), I get the error message -
>
>ISPD014

>...

>I realize that I must issue an allocate command to create the 'user.panels'
>library but I don't know which operands and values to use on the ALLOCATE
>command. Can someone send me an example or explain to me the correct way to
>create a user ISPF panel library? We're using ISPF Version 5.0 at how
>installation.

I recently swore off ISPPLIB... don't use it anymore. Instead, I put
my panels at the back of my REXX source and use a subroutine (called
DEIMBED) to de-imbed the panel text and create a special-purpose panel
library. See http://web.tampabay.rr.com/mvsrexx/REXX/ for DEIMBED and
several examples of how it's used.

P.s.: I don't use ISPSLIB anymore for the same reason, nor ISPMLIB
because I always issue any messages in-line.

[Seibert, Dave]

>was there something prohibiting you from just putting your panel in your
jcl
lib and pointing to that ?

I suggest 2 reasons NOT to put panel source in your JCL library.

1) you risk corrupting the panel source. Most folks I've seen have an edit
profile for the JCL library with NUM ON STD as the default setting. As you
all know, this maintains sequence numbers in positions 73-80.
I have helped too many very frustrated folks debug mysterious ISPF panel
errors caused by sequence numbers overlaying the panel source. Other profile
setting probably differ between JCL source and Panel source, CAPS off is
probably what you need for enlightened panels but JCL processors don't
usually like mixed case. Hilighting might be useful for either JCL or Panel
source and they have different settings.

2) Naming your panel source lib with a final node of .PANELS makes edit
smart enough to assist you with PANEL Model statements. You can issue the
Model
command to obtain models for VER, IF, ATTR and many, many other facilities.

The more development you do with ISPF panels, the more likely you'd find the
above useful. If you have just one panel and don't expect to maintain it a
lot, it probably matters little.

In general, I recommend different libraries for each type of source. Would
you put C, PL/I, Rexx, or COBOL source in your JCL library? Compression (if
you're not using PDSE), contention -- if you work with others, source code
management, profile settings, the Model & Hilite facilities are all reasons
I think it's preferable to segregate different types of source code.

David Seibert
Compuware Corporation Database Product Architect
Dave.S...@compuware.com

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