The Entry panel gives users a convenient, central location for defining filters, default sort order, detail level and other display behavior. It can serve as an alternative to the Menu panel as a launching point for (E)JES.

Data is truncated intelligently and with regard to the type of data displayed. For instance, a date column that displays the four-digit year, month, and day is abbreviated to month and day when the column width is reduced to five characters.

Long and short date column formatting

Point-and-shoot a column header once to sort the display by that column in ascending order, again to sort in descending order and a third time to restore the default sort.

This window—triggered by the Prompt key—is for overtyping long columns, useful when an overtypeable field is sized down, or on 3270 displays that are not configured wide enough to display the maximum width of the column.

Tabular displays have a user-definable fixed area that stays put when the user scrolls right or left. Advanced features include commands to move any column directly into view and to prevent cutting off the first scrollable column on the left.

Left: horizontal scrolling cuts off text; right: SNAP displays whole column.

Use the FIND command on a browse display to highlight all matches on the screen. Advance the cursor to the next matching string with the RFIND command, or to the first match on the next page with RFINDP.

(E)JES includes a complex filtering engine with masking and Boolean operators. Users can display matches only, hide them, or highlight results in context.

A metafilter showing only JCL errors and abends

The same metafilter showing JCL errors and abends in context

The native (E)JES browser includes advanced options such as maintaining data set boundaries when scrolling or searching multiple data sets. Users can configure (E)JES so that it always shows the most recent data first when refreshing the display. This is useful on displays that continually update.

In addition, users can easily substitute ISPF Browse or View mode for the native (E)JES browser.

Point-and-shoot pop-up help trains users on (E)JES, JES and z/OS while they work. Users can get pop-up explanations of columns, input choices for unprotected fields, and a list of line commands. Smart pop-ups explain the contents of certain columns, such as abend codes.

Pop-up column explanations

Pop-up input choices

Smart help pop-up