Technical Tips

How to Ensure you have a PF-Key defined for PREFERENCE Help

With this memo we are assuming the PREFERENCE transactions/programs have been defined/installed to the supported cross-region environment (i.e. CICS, IMS, IDMS or TSO).  These environments produce appropriate messages when an application is incorrectly defined/installed.

If PREFERENCE help requests result in a refresh of the application screen, an unfamiliar error message or they receive a screen of information unfamiliar to the PREFERENCE writer, then a PF-Key may not be defined for PREFERENCE Help.  To ensure you have a PF-Key defined for PREFERENCE Help, you need to first define your terminal-ID to be in screen capture mode.  Click here for detailed information concerning how to setup your terminal-ID for screen capture mode.  When you define your terminal-ID for screen capture mode, we recommend that you type "Y" above SUPERVISOR so your capture request will go to the supervisor "type command line".  This will help you recognize that a PREFERENCE Help request is taking you to the system where you have defined your terminal-ID for screen capture mode.

Now that your terminal-ID is in screen capture mode, return to your application and press the PF-Key you believe is your PREFERENCE help request key.  After requesting help, consider the following:

• Were you taken to the same unfamiliar error message or information screen?  If yes, then either the PF-Key you believe is your PREFERENCE help request key is the wrong key or a PF-Key has not been defined for your current application.  Please see the group responsible for the application you are attempting to receive help for to request more information concerning what PF-Key is being designated as the PREFERENCE Help Request key.  You may additionally need to talk to the group responsible for maintaining the PREFERENCE system.

• If you were you taken directly to the PREFERENCE "type command line" (or another specified destination) as you defined in the Capture Table, then you have a PF-Key defined for PREFERENCE help.

Before you consider this step complete, we recommend that you return to the Capture Facility to delete your terminal-ID definition.  This will help eliminate confusion later when you or the next owner of your current terminal-ID request PREFERENCE help.