When configuring a Mainframe or AS400 session, you can specify a specific device name that is generated from system variables, formats and descriptions. 

A device name can be a maximum of 10 characters in length and consist of any combination of variable and literal values. Each non-literal value can be qualified by a numerical parameter (appended to the device name as an integer) specifying the number or sequence of characters to use.

Example:            DSP[autonum:4]

Where DSP is a literal value, [autonum] represents a sequence number, and 4 the number of digits in the sequence. In this scenario, if a user opens two concurrent sessions, the device names would be "DSP0001" and "DSP0002." (The sequential number is per client machine. If a second user starts another session on a different machine, the device name would also start at "DSP0001").

Example:            [%USERNAME%:-7]

Where [%USERNAME%] represents an environment variable and -7 the last seven characters of the variable. In this scenario, if the USERNAME is "melmsmith", the device name is "LMSMITH."

Example:            [userid:2][userid:-2]Z[autonum:4]

Where userid:2 represents the user login ID and the first two characters of that ID, userid:-2 the last two characters, Z a literal value, [autonum] a sequence number, and 4 the number of digits in the sequence. In this scenario, if the user ID were Rachel Jones, the device name would be "RAESZ0001."

System variable            Value

user login ID                    [userid]

client machine name       [machinename]

environment variable       [%USERNAME%]

Other values                  Value

sequence number           [autonum]

literal value                      Any alpha or numeric character or string

Important:  If the User Specified Device Name check box is selected, any value entered in the Device Name box is ignored.