Editing DBCS data using shift-out and shift-in placeholders

When you select a DBCS code page at logon and edit a mainframe resource that contains DBCS data, shift-out and shift-in placeholders are inserted and displayed within the data. The placeholders not only show you where shift-out and shift-in values exist, but also uphold the column alignment of your data. It is recommended that you insert your own shift-out and shift-in placeholders when adding DBCS data during an edit session. If placeholders are not used, default behavior when saving adjacent DBCS characters is that the characters will be collectively surrounded by one set of shift-out and shift-in values. If you want to have intermediate shift-out and shift-in values within adjacent DCBS characters, you must insert placeholders to represent that.

To use shift-in and shift-out placeholders

1. Position your cursor in front of where DBCS data will start.
2. Right-click and select Source>Add Shift-Out Placeholder. A shift-out placeholder (») is inserted and the cursor moves forward.
3. Type the DBCS data.
4. Position your cursor after the DBCS data.
5. Right-click and select Source>Add Shift-In Placeholder. A shift-in placeholder («) is inserted and the cursor moves forward.

In addition to the right-click menu actions, you can insert a shift-out placeholder by using the ALT+O key binding and you can insert a shift-in placeholder by using the ALT+I key binding.

Shift-out and shift-in placeholders should only be used when editing DBCS data. Some good practices regarding the use of placeholders include the following:

• Using shift-out and shift-in placeholders to uphold column alignment
• Not surrounding SBCS data with shift-out and shift-in placeholders
• Not inserting a shift-out placeholder without a corresponding shift-in placeholder (and vice-versa)