Using the EPI Recording and Playback Options › Record a Session

Record a Session

After you have specified a valid data set member to store your recorded REXX EXEC, the EPI displays its EPI Recorder panel, and you are ready to start recording.

To record a session

1. Review the EPI Recorder panel.
   • The bottom part of the following EPI Recorder panel displays the current screen image of the session you chose for this recording session.
   • The top (highlighted) part of the panel displays a set of commands you can use to work with text on the session screen or to make changes to the REXX EXEC you are building.

     ----------------------------- EPI Recorder ------------------------------
     COMMAND ===>
                                                                   SCROLL=> CSR
      A -Append line to exec   C -place the Cursor        E -Edit the exec
      F -Find a string         K -press a Key (eg. PF1)   L -enter Literal data
      N -eNter variable data   O -set Options             P -take a Picture
      R -turn Recording OFF    S -Set variable            V -Verify data
     ==========================================================================
                     ISPF/PDF PRIMARY OPTION MENU
     OPTION ===>                                   SCROLL ===> PAGE
                                                   SYSTEM - S028
                                                   USERID - DSIAA33
                                                   TIME - 16:40
     0 ISPF PARMS - Specify terminal and user parameters
     1 BROWSE - Display source data or output listings
     2 EDIT - Create or change source data
     3 UTILITIES - Perform utility functions
     6 COMMAND - Enter TSO Command, CLIST, or REXX EXEC
     7 DIALOG TEST - Perform dialog testing
     8 LM UTILITIES - Perform library administrator utility functions
     9 SDSF - System Display and Search Facility
     I IBM - IBM Applications
     C CA - CA Products
     

2. What you do during a recording session depends on what you want to add to or alter in the generic session automation EXEC. Typically, though, you will perform the following tasks in something close to the following order:
   1. Use the EPI V (Verify data) command to specify what screen data your session automation EXEC should look for to determine whether it is examining the right session screen.
   2. Use the EPI L (enter Literal data), C (place the Cursor), N (eNter variable data), K (press a Key) command, or all four commands to build SESSCMDs into your EXEC.

      These SESSCMDs will issue the keystrokes and commands that bring up the session display from which your EXEC pulls data.

   3. Use the EPI V (Verify data) command to recheck that the correct session screen is present.
   4. Issue the EPI P (take a Picture) command to insert a copy of the current session screen image into your REXX EXEC.
   5. Use the EPI S (Set variable) command to insert the found screen data into a single REXX variable.
   6. Use the EPI R (Turn recording off) command if or when you need to scroll the screen image to fetch data for your EXEC and then turn recording back on.
   7. Use the EPI E (Edit the EXEC) command to display and revise the contents of your automation EXEC through the ISPF editor.
   8. Use the EPI Playback option to test and debug your session automation EXEC.

You have recorded your session.