Enhanced Console Facility › Overview › Commands Processed by the ECF

Commands Processed by the ECF

When the ECF sees a command that begins with a question mark, it routes the command to the OPSECF address space associated with the z/OS console from which the command was entered.

Note: A question mark is the default ECF character string. It can be changed to any other 1- to 3-character string (other than the current OSF command character string) with the OPSPRM OPS/REXX function or the OPSPARM command. For additional information, see the ECFCHAR parameter in the Parameter Reference.

OPSECF address spaces are created when a ?LOGON command is entered from a z/OS console, so ?LOGON must be the first question mark command entered.

TSO commands, TSO CLISTs, and OPS/REXX procedures run in OPSECF address spaces by being invoked after a ?LOGON can obtain additional input through the TSO GETLINE service routine (and its OPS/REXX equivalent), and any output they generate is routed back to the requesting console by the ECF.