VIEW
An ISPF mode that looks like the editor, with all its commands, but cannot save changes over the original.
Also written view mode, ISPF VIEW, VIEW command
VIEW opens a dataset or member in a screen that looks and works like the editor. You can use FIND, EXCLUDE, line commands, even change lines to try something out. What you cannot do is save your changes over the original.
That makes VIEW the safe choice for looking at things you must not change, such as production JCL or source. BROWSE is safe too, but it offers fewer commands. VIEW gives you the editor's tools without the risk.
If you do want to keep what you changed, you can save it somewhere else, for example with CREATE or REPLACE to a member in your own library. The original stays as it was.
You open VIEW with V next to a dataset or member in a list, or with the VIEW command. Many experienced people use VIEW by default and switch to EDIT only when they mean to change something.
Where can I learn this hands-on?
Right here, at ZedBank. You take a junior job at a simulated bank and learn each part of the work by doing it, with Zed beside you. There's nothing to install.
Start at ZedBankRelated
- ISPF editorThe full-screen text editor used to write and change JCL, COBOL, REXX and anything else held in a dataset.
- BROWSEA TSO command that shows a dataset or member on screen to read. You can't change it.
- EDITA TSO command that opens a dataset or member in the editor so you can change it.
- MemberOne named item inside a partitioned dataset, such as a single program, job or copybook within a library.
- DSLISTISPF option 3.4, the screen for listing datasets by name and working with them from the list.