A lot of people looses interest in using BookManager for TSO/ISPF almost even before they have started the product. I think that the TSO/ISPF version has some advantages compared to the internet version so here is a few tricks that will work like small miracles for the TSO/ISPF version.

At most installations BookManager is invoked using the command TSO BOOKMGR. When this command has finished its job a panel is displayed with a very long list (bookshelf list) of all the available bookshelves. Every bookshelf represents (almost) one product in a certain version. The bookshelf contains the books belonging to the product version. Just finding the right bookshelf can be tremendous task because the initial display of bookshelves is sorted by bookshelf name, which is an internal IBM name not of much use to potential users. Next column on display is a description that is far more useful because it in most cases reveals the name of the product hidden in the bookshelf. Now what if the initial display of bookshelves were sorted by description...

1. Choose Options in the menu bar
2. Choose item 7
3. Set "bookshelf list sort order" to 2. Description
4. Set "Save the changes as" to 1. Permanent
5. Press Enter
6. Press F5

For all future invocations of TSO BOOKMGR the bookshelf list will be sorted by description and you will always have an easier task when finding the product you want to see the books for. Unfortunately our hard times aren't over yet. As soon as you press F3 or F12 in order to return to the previous panel in BookManager you will be prompted for a confirmation. What in the h... is going on, of course I mean to return. If I could get rid of this annoying confirmation popup...

1. Choose Options in the menu bar
2. Choose item 10
3. Set "Exit from book" to 2. Do not confirm...
4. Set "Exit from bookshelf and bookshelf lists" to 2. Do not confirm...
5. Set "Save the changes as" to 1. Permanent
6. Press Enter

This is fantastic. BookManager begins to work like a decent ISPF product. But there are still some irritating features that will tease you a lot. When you have found the book of your dreams and have drilled down to the most fascinating paragraph then you press F3 in order to return to the previous panel. Instead you will find youself watching at the bookshelf contens. When you are inside a book, you have to use F4 instead of F3. This is very hard for those of us who have worked with ISPF for a loooong time. The people who designed BookManager must have had a drink too much and flipped F4 and F3 functionality. When you are used to the remarkable changes that this tip has done to your relation to BookManager you can try the tip from week 48 in 2001.