============Dave Salt wrote ==================
>Ah, I see. In that case, I take it all back. The ISPF GUI has NO >redeeming features.
============Peter Hunkeler wrote ==============
There is one that has not been talked about in this thread. The workstation agent allows host data sets to be viewed/edited with your favourite workstation editor.
The discussion was about the ISPF GUI, not the Workstation Agent (it's amazing how often the two get confused with each other). Although I dislike the ISPF GUI, I'm a big fan of the Workstation Agent (WSA). As you said, the WSA can be used to edit host data sets on the PC. In addition, it can also be used to edit PC files on the host, or perform file transfers, or execute workstation commands, and more.
To access the benefits I just mentioned, there is no need to be in an ISPF GUI session. For example, I could be in a regular ISPF host session, select a member to edit, and it would open automatically on my PC using my workstation editor of choice. In other words, the benefits of using the WSA are available without having to endure any of the pain of using the ISPF GUI.
============Peter Hunkeler wrote ==============
I don't use it. Too cumbersome to setup each time a new TSO session is started, and...., I like the ISPF editor :-)
If you're talking about the WSA (and not the GUI), I don't find it at all cumbersome to set up. When I get to work in the morning I click an icon on my desktop, and that one icon launches both my mainframe emulator and the WSA. After logging on to ISPF I go into a member list and select a member to edit on my PC or transfer to my PC (etc), and SimpList automatically connects to the WSA which is running on my desktop (if you don't have SimpList there are other ways to automate a connection). The WSA on my desktop is configured to automatically accept any incoming connection requests from specific userids at the host IP address. So, the total effort required on my part to set up a connection between the mainframe and the WSA is precisely none; i.e. everything is completely automatic.
One thing I do agree with; I like the ISPF editor as well. I'm much more likely to use the WSA as a means for editing PC files on the mainframe than I am to use it for editing mainframe files on the PC.
Dave Salt SimpList(tm) - The easiest, most powerful way to surf a mainframe! http://www.mackinney.com/products/SIM/simplist.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
