z/OS Version 2 Release 3 ISPF Dialog Tag Language Guide and Reference IBM SC19-3620-30 Note Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page 515. This edition applies to Version 2 Release 3 of z/OS (5650-ZOS) and to all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new editions. Last updated: 2019-06-21 © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 1989, 2019. US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Figures................................................................................................................. ix Tables................................................................................................................xvii Preface...............................................................................................................xxi About this document................................................................................................................................. xxi Who should use this document.................................................................................................................xxi How to read the syntax diagrams..............................................................................................................xxi How to read the syntax diagrams........................................................................xxv z/OS information...............................................................................................xxix How to send your comments to IBM................................................................... xxxi If you have a technical problem.............................................................................................................. xxxi Summary of changes....................................................................................... xxxiii Summary of changes for z/OS Version 2 Release 3 (V2R3)..................................................................xxxiii Summary of changes for z/OS Version 2 Release 2 (V2R2)..................................................................xxxiii Summary of changes for z/OS Version 2 Release 1 (V2R1)..................................................................xxxiii What's in the z/OS V2R3 ISPF library?.............................................................. xxxv Part 1. Guide to the Dialog Tag Language (DTL)....................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Introduction to the Dialog Tag Language (DTL).........................................................................3 Why the Dialog Tag Language (DTL)?..................................................................................................... 3 What is the Dialog Tag Language?..........................................................................................................4 Dialog elements......................................................................................................................................5 Application panels............................................................................................................................ 5 Help panels....................................................................................................................................... 6 Messages...........................................................................................................................................7 Application command table..............................................................................................................8 Key mapping lists.............................................................................................................................. 8 Variables and variable classes............................................................................................................... 8 What is the ISPF conversion utility?.......................................................................................................9 Chapter 2. How to use the Dialog Tag Language (DTL).............................................................................11 Syntax conventions.............................................................................................................................. 11 Attributes and values......................................................................................................................11 Tag text............................................................................................................................................12 Text formatting................................................................................................................................13 Nesting tags.................................................................................................................................... 14 Markup declarations.............................................................................................................................15 Declaring the document type......................................................................................................... 15 Including comments in your markup............................................................................................. 16 Defining entities and parameter entities........................................................................................17 Embedding source files.................................................................................................................. 22 iii Runtime substitution variables...................................................................................................... 23 Predefined entities..........................................................................................................................23 Chapter 3. Getting started: designing application panels........................................................................ 27 Defining application panels: the PANEL tag........................................................................................ 27 The panel title................................................................................................................................. 29 Panel size (width and depth).......................................................................................................... 29 Key mapping lists............................................................................................................................29 Associated help panels...................................................................................................................29 Panel defaults................................................................................................................................. 30 Cursor placement........................................................................................................................... 30 Other panel attributes.................................................................................................................... 31 Defining action bars and pull-downs................................................................................................... 33 Coding an action bar definition.......................................................................................................34 Pull-down choice actions................................................................................................................35 Action bar help................................................................................................................................35 Preselected pull-down choices...................................................................................................... 36 Mnemonic choice selection............................................................................................................ 36 Pull-down choice accelerator support........................................................................................... 37 Defining the panel body....................................................................................................................... 38 Panel instructions........................................................................................................................... 38 The AREA tag.................................................................................................................................. 39 Scrollable areas.............................................................................................................................. 40 Multiple AREA tags......................................................................................................................... 42 The DYNAMIC AREA tag................................................................................................................. 44 The GRAPHIC AREA tag..................................................................................................................44 The DIVIDER tag............................................................................................................................. 44 The REGION tag..............................................................................................................................46 Defining a command area...................................................................................................................