This document covers the following topics:

• General Information

• Opening the Natural Command Console for Mainframes

• Active Environment

• Server Connections

• Commands in the Natural Command Console for Mainframes

---

General Information

Using the Natural command console for mainframes, you can enter Natural system commands directly in the Console view.

When a system command provides output (for example, when you execute the LIST or TECH command), the output (Natural I/O) is either shown in the internal browser or in an external browser, depending on the settings in the Natural preferences.

Application-dependent information (for example, "command LOGON executed successfully") and error messages (for example, "NAT0082 Invalid command, or Object XY does not exist in library.") are shown directly in the Natural command console, behind the input prompt.

Notes:

1. For detailed information on the Natural system commands, see the Natural for Mainframes documentation. The most up-to-date Natural documentation is always available at http://documentation.softwareag.com/ (Empower login required).
2. The Natural command console can only be used with Natural servers on mainframes. It is not possible to use it with Natural servers on UNIX, OpenVMS or Windows.

Opening the Natural Command Console for Mainframes

The Natural command console for mainframes is available in the Console view, in the list of registered consoles.

To open the Natural command console for mainframes

1. Go to the Console view.

2. Click the "Open Console" icon () which is shown in the local toolbar of the Console view.

3. From the resulting menu, choose Natural Command Console for Mainframes.

Active Environment

When you select a node in the Natural Server view, the name of the corresponding server environment and library is shown in the header line of the Natural command console (for example, "Library: TUTORIAL [My Mainframe]". When a library is currently not selected in the Natural Server view, the Natural command console uses the default logon library.

As soon as you switch from the Natural Server view to the Natural command console, the environment information which is part of the command console's input prompt is adapted so that it shows the environment that was last selected in the Natural Server view. The environment that is shown in the input prompt is always used as the active environment for any subsequent Natural system commands that you enter.

In the Natural command console, you can change the environment with the Natural system commands LOGON, MAP and UNMAP. The change is reflected in the header line and input prompt of the Natural command console. The new environment is considered to be the active environment, and any system command that you will now enter will be executed in the active environment. The system command MAP adds a Natural environment to the Natural Server view. The system command UNMAP removes a mapped server environment from the Natural Server view. For detailed information on the system commands MAP and UNMAP (and only for these two system commands which are normally not available in a mainframe environment), see the Natural for Windows documentation.

The current selection in the Natural Server view is not affected when you change the environment in the Natural command console. For example, when the library TUTORIAL is currently selected in the Natural Server view and you log on to the library TEST using the Natural command console, the library TUTORIAL is still selected in the Natural Server view. However, when you select a different library in the Natural Server view, this change is immediately reflected in the Natural command console and this library will become the active environment.

Server Connections

The Natural command console for mainframes establishes permanent connections to the Natural servers that are accessed from the Natural command console. A connection to a server is established when the first Natural system command is issued in this server environment. Existing connections are activated and deactivated when the current server environment changes. All connections are closed when the NaturalONE session ends.

Commands in the Natural Command Console for Mainframes

In addition to the functionality common to all Eclipse consoles (such as "Pin Console"), the Natural command console for mainframes provides the following commands:

Icon	Command	Description
	Close Console	Closes the Natural command console for mainframes. When you close the Natural command console, the command history (see below) is cleared.
	Natural Command History	Lists all commands that you have entered since the Natural command console has been opened. When you select a command, it is copied to the input prompt. You can then edit the command (if required) and execute it once more. Using the UP-ARROW and DOWN-ARROW keys, you can scroll through the command history.
	Set Selected Environment	Lists all server connections that have been established in the current Natural session. The currently active environment is marked. When you select a server environment from this list, this environment becomes the active environment and subsequent commands will be executed in this environment.