Mode Messages - IBM System 360 User Manual

MODE MESSAGES
A mode message tells you when the system is ready to accept a new
command or subcommand. (See "When to Enter a Command or Subcommand" • )
When
;~he
system is ready to accept a new command it prints:
READY
When you enter a command that has subcommands and the system is ready
to accept its subcommands, it prints the name of the command, which can
be anyone of the following:
ACCOUNT
EDIT
OPERATOR
OUTPUT
TEST
You can then enter the subcommands you want to use. The TEST message
also appears after each TEST subcommand has been processed. If the
system has to print any output or other messages, as a result of the
previous command or TEST subcommand. it does so before printing the mode
message. (The use of mode messages in the EDIT command is discussed in
the section "Entering and Manipulating Data".)
Sometimes you can save a little time by entering two or more commands
in succession without waiting for the intervening READY message. The
system then prints the READY messages in succession after the commands.
For example, if you enter the DELETE, FREE, and RENAME commands and wait
for the intervening mode message between the commands, the output (or
listing) will be:
READY
delete •••
READY
free •••
READY
rename •••
READY
If you enter the same commands without waiting for the intervening
mode messages, your listing will be:
READY
delete •••
free •••
rename •••
READY
READY
READY
There is a drawback to entering commands without waiting for the
intervening mode messages. If you make a mistake in one of the
commands, the system sends you messages telling you of your mistake, and
then it cancels the remaining commands you have entered. After you
correct the error, you have to reenter the other commands.
Unless you are sure that there are no mistakes in your input. you
should wait for a READY message before entering a new command.
Note: Some terminals "lock" the keyboard after you enter a command, and
therefore you cannot enter commands without waiting for the intervening
READY message. Terminals which do not normally lock the keyboard may
occasionally do so, for example when all buffers allocated to the
terminal are used. See the publication TSO Terminals for information on
your terminal.
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TSO Terminal User's Guide (Release 21)