---
title: "Search and compare"
---

# Search and compare

Searching data sets and members as ISPF 3.14 and 3.15 do, and comparing members, data sets and z/OS UNIX files with other members, local files or the version before your last save.

**Verification state:** search and compare are tested against the local z/OSMF-shaped server on Linux. **Not yet run against z/OS.** Search has not been checked in the running app; EBCDIC column positions and large host libraries are not verified.

## Search z/OS data sets

**Search z/OS Data Sets...** does what ISPF 3.14 and 3.15 do.

1. Run it from the Command Palette or the z/OS Data Sets view.
2. Enter the search string and the data set patterns, with member patterns, such as `PROD.**.COBOL(PAY*), PROD.JCL`.
3. Choose the matching mode: case-insensitive by default, or **Match Case**, **Match Whole Word** (by the Editor's rule, not SuperC's WORD) and regular expressions.
4. Results appear in the **z/OS Search Results** view, each member with its matching lines. A line opens the member at the match.

**Stop z/OS Search** stops a running search; **Clear z/OS Search Results** empties the view.

- It only reads. Migrated data sets are never recalled; VSAM data sets and load libraries are listed as not searched; data sets RACF refuses are listed with z/OSMF's message.
- At most `neuralInverse.mainframe.search.maxMembers` (1000) member reads per search, `neuralInverse.mainframe.search.maxConcurrentRequests` (4) at once.

## Compare With...

**Compare With...** on a member, data set or z/OS UNIX file compares it, in the editor's read-only diff, with:

- another member or data set, or the same member in another library;
- a local file or a z/OS UNIX file;
- the version before your last save from this window (kept in memory only);
- the other of two selected members.

The diff is laid out by record format, so fixed-length padding never counts. **Toggle Ignore Sequence Columns in Compare** (setting `neuralInverse.mainframe.compare.ignoreSequenceColumns`, off by default) leaves the sequence columns out.

All reads go through z/OSMF.

To compare records field by field through a copybook, use the Record Viewer's compare: see [File Manager functions](https://neuralinverse.com/docs/modules/mainframe/file-manager/#compare-records).