Overview of IMS Template Editor

The IMS Template Editor offers various options for creating new templates/views and editing existing templates/views for use with the File Manager® IMS editor. Templates improve the functionality of the File Manager® editor by providing a particular interpretation of records stored in an IMS database. The IMS Template Editor allows you to specify what that interpretation is by providing the tools necessary to easily create and modify templates or views. Having this functionality gives you additional control over the way you interact with your data. The Template Editor provides a similar level of editing functionality as is available in File Manager® IMS. For more information about the IBM File Manager ISPF IMS template editor, see the IBM File Manager® for z/OS® User's Guide and Reference for IMS Data.

Invoking IMS Template Editor

You can invoke the IMS template editor by selecting a node which represents an IMS database and opening the context menu. You should find the Template Editor in the context menu when the selected item is appropriate to invoke the IMS Template Editor. When you select to invoke the IMS Template Editor, it opens the IMS Template Editor Options dialog (see the image below).

IMS Template Editor Options Dialog
IMS Template Editor Options Dialog Image

You need to specify the following information:

When creating a new template or editing an existing template, you must specify a fully qualified data set name of a PDS or PDSE without a member name. The specified database name is used as the member name. This is File Manager's restriction that a template member name must match the name of an IMS database.

When creating a new view or editing an existing view, you must specify a fully qualified data set name of a PDS or PDSE with a member name. The member name can be any valid data set member name and does not require it to match the database name. File Manager views are created based on the information stored in a template associated with the selected database. Associated template for the database is selected from the list of template libraries associated with the selected IMS subsystem. The list of template libraries can be configured as part of the IMS subsystem's options.

IMS Template Editor tabs

The template editor consists of three tabs which are described below:

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Layout Tab

The layout tab presents the column information of the currently selected IMS database segments and layout information. Using this tab, you can specify various information about the template or view as follows:

Layout Tab
IMS Template Editor Layout Tab Image

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Segments Tab

The segments tab presents information about IMS segments in the selected database as well as the specification of copybooks associated with each segment. You can add/remove/modify copybooks association with segments in this tab. This tab is only editable while editing a template. When information in this tab is updated, the template must be rebuilt for the changes to take an effect. Click on the Rebuild button and save the template.

Segments Tab
IMS Template Editor Segments Tab Image

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Information Tab

The information tab presents some basic information about the template or view such as creation date, modification date, and IMS database information. In addition, you can specify a description of the template.

Information Tab
IMS Template Editor Information Tab Image

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