Using the block command with the (A)fter and (B)efore line commands-for example MM on line 10 and MM again on line 20, then place an A on line 30-will move lines 10 through 20 from their current location to the line (A)fter line 30.

So, for example DD on line 10, and DD again on line 20 will (D)elete all lines from 10 through 20 inclusive. Learn the basic line commands: D for Delete, C for Copy, I for Insert, M for Move and the block commands and use a pair of characters mentioned. Line commands are those entered on the line numbers at the left of the data in the edit screen, while primary commands are entered at the Command => prompt near the top of the screen-assuming you use Command Line at Top as discussed in my previous article. As a preliminary, the editor has two command modes (similar to vi): these are line commands and primary commands. My best advice for learning this editor is to first learn the basics, then learn how to discover more functionality as you need it. Notepad is perhaps the simplest of these three text-only editors vi has similarly powerful editing features to those found in ISPF Edit. ISPF Edit is equivalent to the ubiquitous vi in UNIX* variants and the Notepad application built into Windows* systems. Note that I say text editor since ISPF Edit isn't a graphical editor, although some of its prompting and modeling capabilities are a precursor to the syntax prompting of sophisticated editors now available under a GUI. The ISPF Editor, invoked using either ISPF command-line option 2, or more often using DSLIST via the command-line option combination 3.4, is one of the most fully featured text editors available for any OS. In the November/December 2005 issue of eServer Magazine, Mainframe edition, I wrote an article titled 'Systems Programmers' Tips and Tricks for ISPF.' In that article, I promised to delve further into the capabilities of the ISPF Editor and offer some tips and tricks for using SDSF.

Ispf editor line commands