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The editor in mvs3.8 TK4- is very different from the editors that I have used in Windows and Linux. I am trying to figure out how to insert a character between two characters in the editor. For example:

//HERC01C JOB (COBOL),

If i want to insert an O after C to //HERC01CO JOB (COBOL), the only ways i can do are by backspacing from the end of the line upto C and type everything after that again; or by moving all the characters to a position to the right using )1 command and the typing over everything form the beginning till C. Is there a way to add O here after C so that it will insert O and automatically move all the characters after that one place to the right?

Hogstrom
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schizoid_man
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  • I am using Hercules emulator and using a 3270 terminal emulator to connect to it. – schizoid_man Jan 20 '21 at 07:56
  • Not an answer but the ISPF editor is very powerful. Anything you can edit can be scripted and there are a large number of primary and line commands for filtering and moving data. – Steve Ives Jan 22 '21 at 19:12

1 Answers1

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I am presuming you are using the ISPF editor

  • enter nulls on in the command line. This will convert trailing spaces to nulls
  • if the line is full, you will need to split it
  • position cursor where you want to enter the new character
  • Make sure you are in insert mode the insert key swaps between insert and over-write modes.
  • Type the character.
Bruce Martin
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    To add to what Bruce wrote: Whether or not you are in insert mode is usually indicated by a caret ```^``` in the operator information line (the bottom most line) in the editor. Also, 3270 emulators usually have a setting to either stay in insert mode upon pressing ```ENTER``` (more precisely, pressing an action key), or to revert to overwrite mode. – phunsoft Jan 20 '21 at 11:02
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    Using 'nulls on' and then using Insert to toggle b/w insert and overwrite modes did the trick. Thanks guys. – schizoid_man Jan 20 '21 at 13:25
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    You can also place the cursor at the end of the text and use the `EOF` keyboard function. Also, TK4 is a distribution of MVS so your question is more generally about using 3270 I think than TK4 as the same question applies to z/OS systems today. – Hogstrom Jan 21 '21 at 00:33
  • How different is the modern 64 bit z/OS user interface from the mvs3.8 interface? – schizoid_man Jan 21 '21 at 07:18
  • Editing interfaces range from ISPF (old school) to VScode with Zowe extensions. Depends on what your editing and the experience you want – Hogstrom Jan 25 '21 at 00:40