What IOF is and how to start it
IOF (Interactive Output Facility) is a vendor product, an alternative to IBM's SDSF, for looking at the JES2 spool: jobs waiting to run, jobs running, and the output of finished jobs. You start it from ISPF or TSO, usually with the IOF command, and filter by job name so you only see what you need.
Where IOF fits
When a job runs, JES2 writes its messages and printed output to the Spool. IOF and SDSF are two tools for looking at the spool. Some sites have only one, some have both. The ideas are the same: find the job, open it, read the output. IOF is sold today by Fischer International and runs under TSO and CICS.
Starting IOF
| You type | Where | Result |
|---|---|---|
| I | ISPF primary menu (site dependent) | The IOF Option Menu |
| IOF | TSO, or TSO IOF from any ISPF panel | Your own jobs, or the option menu, depending on your site's setup |
| IOF PAYRUN01 | TSO | Jobs called PAYRUN01 |
| IOF PAY* | TSO | Jobs whose names start with PAY |
| IOF * | TSO | Your jobs, skipping the option menu |
In job name patterns, * at the end matches any number of characters and + matches exactly one, so PAYRUN+1 matches PAYRUN01 and PAYRUN11. Exactly how IOF is installed varies, so if I does nothing on your ISPF menu, try TSO IOF.
The Option Menu
IOF Option Menu COMMAND ===> _ blank Your jobs G Output groups I Input (waiting) jobs LOG System log R Running jobs M System monitor O Output jobs P Your IOF profile H Held output JOBNAMES ===> PAY* (what you can see depends on your authority)
Type HELP on any IOF panel for help with that panel, and QT for the built-in Quick Trainer tutorials. Both are worth a few minutes in your first week.
Which TSO command lists every job whose name starts with PAY?
Show a hint
IOF, a space, then a pattern with a trailing asterisk.
Show the solution
IOF PAY*
Examples are for learning. Run commands and jobs only on a system you are authorised to use, such as a training or test system, and never on production without approval.
Common mistakes
Both read the same JES2 spool. Only the panels and commands differ.
Filter by job name or owner. Huge lists are slow and it is easy to act on the wrong row.
You may not have authority to see it, or it may have been purged. Ask before resubmitting.
What you will see at work
- Runbooks often say 'check the job in SDSF or IOF'. They mean the same thing: look at its spool output.
- Production job names follow strict standards, so a prefix filter such as PAY* shows a whole application's batch.
- You will usually see your own jobs by default, and other people's only if your role allows it.
Key terms
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