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Introduction​

In this exercise, students will master the ISPF 3.4 Data Set List Utility by using its two key toggles, Prefix DSNAME Level and Include Additional Qualifiers, alongside wildcard patterns and the Volume serial field.

You’ll learn how your TSO PROFILE prefix (SHRDVXX) affects dataset searches, how to override it with single quotes, and how turning the Include Additional Qualifiers toggle on or off changes your results.

By the end, you’ll be able to craft precise searches (e.g. exact qualifier counts, substring matches, volume‐specific) and understand why quoting or omitting quotes matters to avoid a Dsname level error.

note

Replace SHRDVXX with your assigned user id wherever applicable. Replace ZAVOL1 and ZAVOL2 with different valid volumes on mainframe.

Exercises: Listing Datasets with ISPF 3.4​

Preparation​

  • TSO PROFILE Prefix: Ensure your prefix is set to your TSO ID.
  • Sample datasets (already allocated):
    • SHRDVXX.DEMO1
    • SHRDVXX.DEMO2
    • SHRDVXX.DEMO3.JCL
    • SHRDVXX.DATA.VOLX on volume ZAVOL1
    • SHRDVXX.SRC.TST on volume ZAVOL2
  • System datasets: SYS1.* always exist.
  • Toggles: It talks about Data set list options -> Enter "/" to select option.
    • For Toggles: none remove all "/" for available 6 options.

  1. Basic wildcard list

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*
    • Task: List all first‐level SHRDVXX datasets.

  2. Two‑qualifier list

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*.*
    • Task: List only those SHRDVXX datasets with exactly two qualifiers.

  3. Three‑qualifier list

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*.*.*
    • Task: List only those SHRDVXX datasets with exactly three qualifiers.

  4. Exclude deeper qualifiers

    • Toggles: remove “/” beside Include Additional Qualifiers (to turn off)
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*
    • Task: Observe the difference.

  5. Include deeper qualifiers

    • Toggles: place “/” beside Include Additional Qualifiers (to turn on)
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*
    • Task: Observe the difference.

  6. Using your TSO prefix

    • Toggles: place “/” beside Prefix DSNAME Level (to turn on)

    • Dsname Level: DEMO1.*

    • Task: See what all datasets comes to list.

    • Dsname Level: 'DEMO1.*'

    • Task: See what all datasets comes to list.

  7. Overriding your prefix

    • Override the SHRDVXX prefix to list system datasets.

    • Toggles: place “/” beside Prefix DSNAME Level (to turn on)

    • Dsname Level: 'SYS1.*'

    • Task: See what all datasets comes to list.

    • Dsname Level: LPA*

    • Task: See what all datasets comes to list.

  8. Volume serial filter

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.DATA.*
    • Volume serial: ZAVOL1
    • Task: List only those SHRDVXX datasets residing on volume ZAVOL1.

  9. Qualifier match

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*.JCL.*
    • Task: List datasets whose third qualifier is JCL.

  10. Substring wildcard

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*SRC*.*
    • Task: List datasets where the second qualifier contains SRC.

  11. System two‑qualifier

    • Toggles: none
    • Dsname Level: 'SYS1.*.*'
    • Task: List all two‑qualifier system datasets (SYS1.XXX.YYY).

  12. Combined filters

    • Toggles: place “/” beside Include Additional Qualifiers (on)
    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*SRC*.*
    • Volume serial: ZAVOL2
    • Task: List three‑qualifier SHRDVXX datasets containing SRC on volume ZAVOL2.

  13. Changing View

    • Dsname Level: SHRDVXX.*
    • Initial view: Set the value 1, 2, 3, 4.
    • Task: List the dataset option with different Initial views.

Exercises: Navigating and Acting on the Dataset List​

Prerequisite: Display the Data Set List in ISPF 3.4 with Prefix DSNAME Level and Include Additional Qualifiers toggles both on.

Here are the list of question. Perform the action as requested and get the answer. Use Help panel as and when needed.

  • On the command line, how would you scroll down five lines on pressing PF8.
  • Which field do you set (and to what value) to enable PF7/PF8 page scrolling, and then how do you move one page forward and back?
  • Which primary command do you enter to refresh the dataset list so it shows any new or deleted entries?
  • Using a primary command, how would you search inside all SYS1.*.SAMP datasets for the string ALLOCD?
  • Which primary command highlights every dataset name containing the substring SAMP?
  • After performing a FIND, what key or command repeats that search for the next occurrence?
  • Which primary command hides all datasets whose name contains LIB?
  • On the line command area, what single‑character command opens a dataset in read‑only view?
  • Which line command lets you browse a dataset (scroll without editing)?
  • What line command displays the dataset’s detailed attributes (size, format, volume, etc.)?
  • Which line command shows a brief summary of a dataset’s attributes?
  • On a given line, what command temporarily excludes (hides) that dataset from the list?