ISPPROF - ISPF Profile

Enhanced Definition

`ISPPROF` is a personal dataset allocated to each TSO user on z/OS, primarily used by the **Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF)** to store user-specific configuration settings, preferences, and session-related data. It ensures that a user's customized ISPF environment persists across different login sessions.

Key Characteristics

- User-Specific: Each TSO userid has its own ISPPROF dataset, typically named userid.ISPPROF, ensuring personalized settings for every user.
- Dataset Type: It is typically a Partitioned Data Set (PDS) or Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE), containing members that store various ISPF settings.
- Automatic Management: ISPF automatically allocates, manages, and updates the ISPPROF dataset as the user makes changes to their ISPF environment (e.g., modifying PF keys, editor options, screen colors).
- Persistence: Settings stored in ISPPROF are persistent, meaning they are retained even after the user logs off and logs back on, providing a consistent user experience.
- Contents: Common members include ISPCMDS (command history), ISPFPROF (general profile settings), ISPEDIT (editor options), and ISPKEYS (PF key definitions).

Use Cases

- Personalizing ISPF Panels: Storing user-defined screen colors, display options, and panel layouts for a customized visual experience within ISPF.
- Saving Editor Settings: Persisting ISPF Editor options such as RECOVERY ON/OFF, NUMBER ON/OFF, HEX ON/OFF, and default tab settings across editing sessions.
- Retaining PF Key Assignments: Storing custom assignments for Program Function (PF) keys, allowing users to tailor keyboard shortcuts for frequently used commands within ISPF.
- Maintaining Command History: Recording the history of commands entered on ISPF command lines, facilitating easy recall and re-execution of previous commands.
- Storing Application-Specific Data: Some ISPF-based applications or utilities may use ISPPROF to store their own user-specific configuration or temporary data relevant to that application.

Related Concepts

ISPPROF is intrinsically linked to ISPF (Interactive System Productivity Facility), serving as the repository for its user-specific configuration data. It operates within the TSO (Time Sharing Option) environment, where ISPF sessions are initiated. While ISPPROF stores *user-specific* settings, ISPF Configuration datasets (like ISPPLIB, ISPTLIB, ISPMLIB) hold *system-wide* panels, messages, and skeletons that define the overall ISPF environment. ISPPROF allows users to customize this base environment without altering system-level definitions, directly influencing the behavior of the ISPF Editor and other ISPF components.

Best Practices:

Avoid Manual Modification: Generally, avoid directly editing members within ISPPROF using the ISPF editor, as this can lead to corruption or unexpected behavior. Let ISPF manage its contents automatically.
Backup Strategy: While not frequently required, consider backing up your ISPPROF dataset occasionally, especially if you have highly customized settings that would be difficult to recreate manually.
Corruption Recovery: If ISPF starts behaving erratically due to a corrupted ISPPROF, a common recovery method is to delete the userid.ISPPROF dataset. ISPF will automatically allocate a new, default one upon the next login.
Performance Awareness: Be mindful that excessive I/O to ISPPROF (e.g., by constantly changing settings or using applications that frequently write to it) can slightly impact IS