The dialog test environment
The Dialog Test Primary Option Panel, shown in Figure 1, follows the conventions for a primary option panel. If you use the RETURN command from one of the selected Dialog Test options, the Dialog Test Primary Option Panel is displayed again. If you use the END command from this panel, you return to the ISPF Primary Option Menu.
When you enter Dialog Test from the ISPF Primary Option Menu, you enter a new user application with an ID of ISR. When you enter Dialog Test from the ISPF primary option panel, you enter a new user application with an ID of ISP. All options listed on the Dialog Test Primary Option Panel operate in this context. If you call a new function using the Functions options (7.1), a SELECT service call is performed, and the rules for the SELECT service are followed.
Menu Utilities Compilers Options Status Help
┌───────────────────────────── Dialog Test ──────────────────────────────┐ ────
│ Menu Utilities View Help │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ Primary Option Panel │ RN
│ │
│ 1 Functions Invoke dialog functions/selection panel │
│ 2 Panels Display panels │
│ 3 Variables Display/set variable information │ SH
│ 4 Tables Display/modify table information │
│ 5 Log Browse ISPF log │
│ 6 Dialog Services Invoke dialog services │ RN
│ 7 Traces Specify trace definitions │
│ 8 Breakpoints Specify breakpoint definitions │ A
│ T Tutorial Display information about Dialog Test │ 5.5
│ X Exit Terminate dialog testing │
│ Option ===> │
│ F1=Help F2=Split F3=Exit F4=Expand F5=Rfind │
│ F6=Resize F7=Backward F8=Forward F9=Swap F10=Actions │
⋘────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Option ===> 7
F1=Help F2=Split F3=Exit F7=Backward F8=Forward F9=Swap
F10=Actions F12=Cancel
- 1
display the Invoke Dialog Functions/Selection panel
- 2
display the Display Panel panel
- 3
display the Variables panel
- 4
display the Tables panel
- 5
browse the log
- 6
display the Invoke Dialog Service panel
- 7
display the Traces panel
- 8
display the Breakpoints panel
You must use a parameter with the DTEST command, otherwise an error message appears. After you complete the entries on whichever dialog test panel you invoke, leaving the panel returns you to the application you were running with the new entries in place.
Dialog Test is itself a dialog and, therefore, uses dialog variables. Because it is important to allow your dialog to operate without interference, as though in a production environment, Dialog Test accesses and updates variables independently of your dialog variables.
All breakpoints and traces that you set in Dialog Test exist only while you remain within the Dialog Test option.
You should always allocate the ISPF log when using Dialog Test. Do not
suppress its generation by typing 0
in the Primary
pages
field that appears on the Log Data set defaults
and List
Data set defaults
choices from the Log/List pull-down on the ISPF
Settings panel. Dialog Test writes trace data to the log when you
request it. Also, if Dialog Test finds an unexpected condition, it
writes problem data to the log.
- All functions you normally get by specifying the TEST parameter on the ISPSTART command
- Logging of all severe errors, both from user dialogs and Dialog Test. This is normally done when you specify TRACE or TRACEX on the ISPSTART command.
- Suspension of the logging of all ISPEXEC dialog service requests. Such logging normally occurs when you specify TRACE or TRACEX on the ISPSTART command. You should use the Traces option (7.7).
These facilities become active for all logical screens when you are using split-screen mode. At the completion of the last dialog test session (dialog test is no longer active in any logical screen), these options will be restored to the original values established during dialog manager start-up. Optionally, by making the appropriate selection on the ISPF Settings panel, the facilities established by dialog test will remain in effect after the last dialog test session terminates.