Define commands

This describes how you can define and create your own commands.

• Command definition statements
  Command definition allows system users to create additional commands to meet specific application needs.
• Command definition process
  This shows how a command is created.
• Define a command
  To create a command, you must first define the command through command definition statements.
• Data type and parameter restrictions
  There are valid combinations of parameters according to the parameter type.
• Define lists for parameters
  You can define a parameter to accept a list of values instead of just a single value.
• Use prompt control
  You can control which parameters are displayed for a command during prompting by using prompt control specifications.
• Key parameters and prompt override programs
  The prompt override program allows current values rather than defaults to be displayed when a command is prompted. Key parameters are parameters, such as the name of an object, that uniquely identify the object.
• Create commands
  After you have defined your command through the command definition statements, you use the Create Command (CRTCMD) command to create the command.
• Display a command definition
  You can use the Display Command (DSPCMD) command to display or print the values that were specified as parameters on the CRTCMD command.
• Effect of changing the command definition of a command in a procedure or program
  Some changes can be made to the command definition of a command with no further action. Other changes may require the program or procedure to be recreated, or may cause the program or procedure to function differently.
• Write a command processing program or procedure
  A command processing program (CPP) is a program that processes a command. This program performs some validity checking and processes the command so that the requested function is performed.
• Write a validity checking program
  You can write a validity checking program for your command to detect errors and send diagnostic messages.
• Examples: Define and create commands
  This contains examples of defining and creating commands.