Error message "The command table is currently open ..." trying to edit the CTLICMDS command table

Products

• Endevor

Issue/Introduction

Editing the command table CTLICMDS (located in the CSIQTENU library) fails when the Endevor dialog application is active. Attempting to modify the table through ISPF command table utility (option 3.9) while Endevor is open in another panel results in a message stating the command table is currently open and cannot be modified, as in the below example:

  Menu  Utilities  Help                                                       
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
                                Display CTLICMDS             Row 1 to 25 of 25
Command ===>                                                  Scroll ===> CSR 
                                                                              
The command table is currently open, it cannot be modified. Use the view(V)   
row command to see an entire entry.                                           
                                                                              
     Verb      T  Action                                                      
     ECOLS     2  SELECT CMD(%ECOLS &ZPARM)                                   
...

 

Cause

ISPF prevents editing a command table while a dialog has it open. The utility requires the application to be inactive on all logical screens within the TSO session.

Resolution

Follow these steps to access and modify the command table using the LIBDEF service:

1. Enter Endevor and run TSO ISRDDN to identify the dataset containing member CTLICMDS.
2. Exit ISRDDN and Endevor completely Modification on CTLICMDS.
3. Navigate to Dialog Test (usually option 7) and select Dialog Services (usually option 6).
4. Execute the following service: LIBDEF ISPTLIB DATASET ID('library.containing.CTLICMDS').
5. Verify the allocation by command ISPLIBD to ensure ISPTLIB points to the correct dataset.
6. Edit the CTLICMDS table using the command table utility (option 3.9).
7. Note that the updated table saves to the DDname ISPTABL.
8. Copy the updated member from the ISPTABL library back to the production library if necessary.