PL/I Debugging Programs › Keep Variables in the Keep Window

Keep Variables in the Keep Window

The Keep window lets you display the values of an unlimited number of data items directly on the source listing. If more than six variables are selected for the Keep window, PF19 and PF20 are available to scroll forward and backward through the Keep window. Keeping data items in the window lets you observe changes in their values as the program executes. You also can change values by overtyping the displayed bytes.

The Keep window consists of two parts:

• Dynamic keep elements consist of the variables based on the current line of code. They are automatically displayed using the AutoKeep Display profile feature. They are shown in highlighted text.
• Static keep elements are those that remain in the Keep window for the duration of the execution of the program until you remove them. The static keep elements are displayed before the dynamic elements. Use scrolling to view all the elements.

You can change any dynamic element to a static element simply by following these rules:

When the Keep window is active, the options and PF key functions are not displayed. Press PF4 if you need to refer to them. When all the data items in the Keep window are removed, the options and PF key functions are redisplayed. A command line is available to help you perform CA InterTest for CICS functions when the Keep window is active.