IBM Mainframe Forum

Is it possible, while running a program under ISPF to display a panel that would appear as a progress bar like we see in so many windows applications ?

Sure, why not. I've seen that done with some third-party products.

I'd be interested to know how it's done at the panel level to see if I can code one. Would anybody have such an example by any chance ?

I don't have an example but I believe it's done by updating a variable and redisplaying the panel in "input locked" mode so the user can't enter new commands. Perhaps the ISPF Dialog Developers Guide has some examples.

Maybe this ISPF animation example will help?

Thanks for your input. I've managed to make a very crude progress bar with a dynamic area inside a panel. It obviously could use some improvement but I can live with that for my small project. I just put it out here in case it can help somebody or if a better way can be found starting from what I've done.

The Panel DYNAREA

)ATTR
# AREA(DYNAMIC)
/ TYPE(CHAR) INTENS(HIGH) COLOR(GREEN) HILITE(REVERSE)
)BODY WINDOW(50,1)
#SAREA,SHADOW -----------------------------------#
)END

The REXX DYNAREA

/* REXX */

SAREA = ' '
SHADOW = ''

ADDRESS 'ISPEXEC'
"ADDPOP ROW(05) COLUMN(10)"

DO K=1 TO 50
SHADOW = SHADOW || '/'
"CONTROL DISPLAY LOCK"
"DISPLAY PANEL(DYNAREA)"
DO L=1 TO 20000
END
END

"REMPOP"

EXIT