Moving from panel to panel

You move from panel to panel in FM/CICS in the same way as you do under ISPF. That is, you launch processing panels from menu panels, by entering the appropriate menu option number on the command line. FM/CICS uses a Primary Options Menu panel to provide access to processing panels that are related to a particular function or group of functions. In some cases, an option on the Primary Options menu leads to another menu panel, from which you can select the required processing panel.

When you know the menu structure well, you can quickly jump to the required panel by entering the full pathway through the menu options. For example, entering 3.2 from the Primary Option Menu panel takes you to one of the Print Entry panels. Entering a relative path in this way allows you "jump over" intermediary panels that you would otherwise need to navigate through.

You can also jump to any FM/CICS panel from any other panel, without having to navigate the menu structure, by using an equals sign (=) to prefix the option number. The equals sign instructs FM/CICS to start the menu navigation from the Primary Options Menu panel and not from your current location. For example, if you are positioned on the Utility Functions panel, entering 2 on the command line displays the Print CICS File Entry panel (option 2 on the current menu), while entering =2 displays the Edit CICS File Entry panel (option 2 on the Primary Options Menu panel).

To access a panel, choose one of the following methods:

  • If necessary, navigate your way back to the Primary Option Menu panel (by pressing the Exit function key (F3) one or more times), then type the menu option number on the Command line and press Enter. Repeat for each nested menu until the required processing panel is displayed.
  • Type an equals sign followed by the complete menu path to the required panel, separating each menu level with a period, then press Enter.

To exit from any panel, choose one of the following:

  • Press the Exit function key (F3).
  • Type END on the on the Command line and press Enter.