A HOLD action adds a message to the Hold pane of OS 2200 Console View, where it remains until it is removed by a RELEASE action (see 4.14) or by the operator. This action also holds any supplemental messages specified using a DISPLAY action (see 4.10). Only one HOLD action is allowed per operating mode. HOLD actions in a pattern are executed after all RELEASE actions in the pattern.

Note that when you have suppression turned on, console messages that are held (HOLD action) and suppressed (SUPPRESS action) are placed in the Hold pane even though you cannot see them. To prevent the Hold pane form filling with suppressed console messages, the console automatically releases a suppressed message when the last supplemental display message (DISPLAY action) associated with that message is released from the Hold pane. If no supplemental display actions are defined for a console message that is held and suppressed, the console message is not held in the Hold pane.

See 4.2 for formatting information. The action-text is an optional identifier that you can specify in a subsequent RELEASE action to automatically remove the message and associated supplemental messages.