Zowe Explorer for IBM CICS: CICSLibrary Resource
{Incubation} As a result of its ongoing and active development, the Open Mainframe Project Zowe Explorer for IBM CICS VSCode extension now provides a new resource, CICSLibrary. This enables users to readily use the resource by being able to access the library definitions including its attributes, associated datasets and details regarding the operational status along with its relative programs. This blog post presents the various functionality incorporated within this resource, such as the ability to view CICS Library Datasets and relevant CICS Programs all within the Libraries resource.
To try out the new CICS Library Resource features, make sure to install the extension from the Visual Studio Code Marketplace if you haven’t already. For set-up related information and to learn more about other CICS extension features, check out a blog on how to use the CICS extension and the major features it offers to users as well as the Zowe Explorer CICS Extension documentation.
A tree node called Libraries has been added under the CICS regions that users will be able to view once a CICS region has been expanded. To view the particular libraries that are part of the specified CICS region, the libraries resource can be expanded. Furthermore, users have the option to execute the Show Attributes command by right-clicking on any of the libraries and selecting this option to display the specific attributes of the selected library. Additionally, the built-in search functionality enables users to filter down specific libraries of interest by setting filters and clearing them to retrieve all libraries.
As it can be realized, each library node can be further expanded; enabling users to view the CICS Library Datasets underneath the Libraries themselves. Further, each of the CICS Library Datasets includes the option to execute the Show Attributes command by right-clicking on the resource and selecting this operation which enables users to see the specific attribute data and the values that are held by each of the datasets. The LIBRARY attribute, that identifies the library to which the dataset belongs to and the one it will be positioned beneath on the Libraries node expansion, is an important one to take note of. Additionally, the built-in search functionality enables users to filter down specific datasets of interest by setting filters and clearing them to retrieve all datasets.
An interesting integration that has been deployed into this resource is the functionality to further expand the Datasets themselves to view CICS Programs. The retrieved CICS programs have an attribute called LIBRRAYDSN which corresponds to the CICS Library Dataset resource under which the related programs are listed. The CICS Programs under the datasets allows for the integrated functionality to be performed including the execution of commands such as Show Attributes, the option to Enable and/or Disable a program, perform a New Copy and/or the choice to perform a Phase In. Additionally, the built-in search functionality for each dataset provides filtering to assist with locating programs of interest.
Similarly, under plex systems, users can go ahead and view All Libraries by applying a filter to retrieve all and/or specific libraries of interest. This will load the libraries requested based on the filter applied. The library node can be expanded to examine datasets, and the datasets node can be further expanded to view relevant programs, allowing for similar functionality to that described above. Additionally, the user can perform commands like Show Attributes and the search functionality on all resources according to their preferences.
Finding out more
If you enjoyed this blog, check out more at the Zowe blogs site. Or, ask a question and join the conversation on the Open Mainframe Project Slack Channel #Zowe-dev, #Zowe-user or #Zowe-onboarding. If this is your first time using the Open Mainframe Project slack channel register here.
