IBM Spufi - Mode of Use

Mode of Use

Although it is essentially an interactive tool, SPUFI operates using a pair of datasets. (A dataset on z/OS is equivalent to a file on other operating systems.) In the main SPUFI screen one specifies an input dataset and an output dataset; these can be specified once and then reused repeatedly. When the user moves on from the main screen, the standard ISPF editor is opened on the input dataset. At this point the user can enter the required SQL statements using the familiar editor. On exiting from the editor the main SPUFI screen reappears; when the user moves on this time the contents of the input dataset are executed. The results are placed in the output dataset and the ISPF editor is opened (in read-only "browse" mode) on that output. This is how the user reads their results. Interactive use of SPUFI continues around these steps; in summary the cycle is:

Because SPUFI uses normal datasets for the commands and the output, it is possible to pre-populate the commands or operate on the output by accessing the datasets independently of the SPUFI tool. Using datasets also means that a possibly-complicated set of SQL commands will persist from session to session rather than being lost when the user exits the tool.