Processing tables that are currently open

Normally, ISPF does not allow a table to be opened and processed if that table is currently open. However, if the table currently open has been opened with the SHARE option, a subsequent open of the table is allowed if:

The SHARE option is used, and
The WRITE/NOWRITE option is the same as specified when the table was initially opened

The ISPF Table Utility provides support which allows you to process a table even when that table is currently open.

If a table is currently open in SHARE mode, the ISPF Table Utility can be used to process that table provided you select the "Open table in SHARE mode" option on the ISPF Table Utility panel and the Edit (WRITE) or Browse (NOWRITE) option specified matches the WRITE/NOWRITE setting when the table was originally opened.

If a table data set (rather than a table DD) is specified on the entry panel, the ISPF Table Utility also allows you to process a table that is open but not in SHARE mode, or a table that is open in SHARE mode but the WRITE/NOWRITE (edit/browse) setting does not match that of the open table. When this situation is detected, one of the popup windows shown here is displayed allowing you to specify the way in which to process the table:

Figure 1. Panel displayed when the selected table is currently open but not in SHARE mode

 ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │ ISRUTBC2            Confirm Table Processing                      │
 │ Command ===>                                                      │
 │                                                                   │
 │ CAUTION:                                                          │
 │ The table TSTTABA is currently open to you or another user.       │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Instructions:                                                     │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press ENTER key to process a temporary copy of the table in data  │
 │ set VANDYKE.TBUTIL.TABLES.                                        │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press CANCEL or EXIT to cancel processing of the table.           │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 ⋘───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The panel shown in Figure 1 is displayed when the selected table from the table data set (TSTTABA) is currently open but not in SHARE mode.

Figure 2. Panel displayed when the selected table is currently open in SHARE mode for NOWRITE

 ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │ ISRUTBC1            Confirm Table Processing                      │
 │ Command ===>                                                      │
 │                                                                   │
 │ CAUTION:                                                          │
 │ The table TSTTABA is currently open to you in SHARE/NOWRITE mode  │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Instructions:                                                     │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press ENTER key to process a temporary copy of the table in data  │
 │ set VANDYKE.TBUTIL.TABLES.                                        │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press EXIT key to process the currently open table                │
 │ in SHARE/NOWRITE (browse) mode.                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press CANCEL to cancel processing of the table.                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 ⋘───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The panel shown in Figure 2 (ISRUTBC1) is displayed when the selected table (TSTTABA) from the table data set is currently open in SHARE mode for NOWRITE (not for update) and you either:

Did not select the Open table in SHARE mode option on the entry or options panel, or
Requested to edit (WRITE) the table

Figure 3. Panel displayed when the selected table is currently open in SHARE mode for WRITE

 ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │ ISRUTBC1            Confirm Table Processing                      │
 │ Command ===>                                                      │
 │                                                                   │
 │ CAUTION:                                                          │
 │ The table TSTTABA is currently open to you in SHARE/WRITE mode.   │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Instructions:                                                     │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press ENTER key to process a temporary copy of the table in data  │
 │ set VANDYKE.TBUTIL.TABLES.                                        │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press EXIT key to process the currently open table                │
 │ in SHARE/WRITE (edit) mode.                                       │
 │                                                                   │
 │ Press CANCEL to cancel processing of the table.                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 │                                                                   │
 ⋘───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The panel shown in Figure 3 (ISRUTBC1) is displayed when the selected table (ISRPLIST) is currently open in SHARE mode for WRITE (for update) and you either:

Did not select the Open table in SHARE mode option on the entry or options panel, or
Requested to browse (NOWRITE) the table

If you press Enter, the table utility:

Creates a temporary partitioned data set.
Copies the table from the table data set you specified. into a member in the temporary data set using a generated member name.
Opens the table using the generated name.
Displays the table data.

If you press the Exit key (usually PF3) on panel ISRUTBC1, the table utility:

Displays the data for the currently open table. If this table was originally opened for WRITE, the data is displayed for edit, otherwise it is displayed for browse.

If you press Cancel (or Exit on panel ISRUTBC2):

The table is not processed and you are returned to the entry or table selection panel.

If you edit a temporary copy of an open table, this panel is displayed when you exit the edit display:

ISRUTBPB                 Save Temporary Table
Command ===>

Specify the names of the data set and member where the temporary table
will be saved.

Partitioned Data Set Name and Member
   Name  . . . . . . . 'VANDYKE.TBUTIL.TABLES'                       
   Member  . . . . . . ISRPLIST

Enter "/" to select option
   Replace existing member


Instructions:

Press ENTER key to save the temporary table in the specified data set
and member.

Press EXIT or CANCEL to exit without saving the temporary table.

This panel allows you to save the updated table in a specified data set and member. The panel initially shows the table data set and table (member) you requested to edit. The "Replace existing member" option allows you to replace an existing member with the data from the table you have edited. If you press Enter, the table utility writes the table data to the specified data set and member. If you press Exit or Cancel, the data from the temporary table is not saved.