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  • 1.  ISPF Dialog Functions - Can Python call ISPEXEC functions?

    Posted 11/17/25 11:30 AM

    Not sure if this question has mentioned before, but I was wondering if Python could call ISPEXEC functions (Panels, Tables and Datasets) just like you can do with REXX, CLISTs/, Cobol ,PL/1 etc.

    The reason behind this is Python offers a lot of options to integrate external processes especially with z/OSAU, but it's the PANEL part I need. 

    With z/OS does this make it more feasible in some way or is the difference between Python and and the traditional programming languages too big in terms programming interfaces.

    I am asking the impossible!

      



    ------------------------------
    Steve Spence
    Expert Systems Engineer, Applications
    Ensono Ltd
    London
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: ISPF Dialog Functions - Can Python call ISPEXEC functions?

    Posted 11/17/25 01:08 PM

    Python runs in the OMVS (z/OS UNIX) environment, not in foreground TSO where ISPF runs.


    The DSFS (Dataset Filesystem) allows UNIX programs (e.g. Python) to read/write MVS Sequential datasets and PDS members. That greatly enhances the usability of Python, but does not give you the ability to write ISPF dialogs in Python. Most ISPF dialogs are written in REXX. 


    Regards,

    Bob Stark

    ProTech – When you are serious about Systems Management
    Training, Consulting, and Software for z/OS, Linux, and Internet
    www.protechtraining.com O: 412-810-8855 x151 M: 412-445-8072







  • 3.  RE: ISPF Dialog Functions - Can Python call ISPEXEC functions?

    Posted 11/18/25 02:33 PM

    Python on z/OS doesn't have an "ISPF host command environment" like REXX (i.e., ADDRESS ISPEXEC) and ISPF's two official call interfaces (SPEXEC and ISPLINK) are documented for REXX/CLISTs and LE-compiled languages (COBOL, PL/I, C, etc.), not for Python
    Keep your panels in ISPF and drive the dialog with a tiny REXX (or CLIST) layer. From that REXX, invoke Python to do the heavy lifting (ML, file transforms, REST calls, ZOAU ops), then return results to the panel (via temp data sets/USS files, stem variables, or messages). From ISPF, you can launch external commands



    ------------------------------
    Matheus Porsch
    Systems Administration - Kyndryl
    Brazil
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: ISPF Dialog Functions - Can Python call ISPEXEC functions?

    Posted 11/18/25 03:33 PM

    Thanks Matheus this method could definitely work for me.



    ------------------------------
    Steve Spence
    Expert Systems Engineer, Applications
    Ensono Ltd
    London
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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