Creating variables

When you edit a resource definition in CICS Explorer®, you can use the Insert variable or Extract value to variable wizard to create variables.

About this task

Use this procedure to create variables when you edit a resource definition in CICS Explorer. For other types of bundle part, you must update both the bundle part and the variables.properties file manually.

You can use the Insert variable wizard to create a completely new variable. You can use the Extract value to variable wizard to create a variable from an existing attribute value.

Procedure

  1. Open the appropriate wizard, depending on the initial state of your attribute value:
    • If you select an attribute without a value, or if the editor for an attribute is active but there is no current selection, right-click, then click Insert variable on the menu.
    • If you select all or part of an existing attribute value, right-click, then click Extract value to variable on the menu.
  2. Enter a name for the variable in the Variable name field. The default name is resourcename.attributename.
  3. Select the check box next to each project or binding that you want to provide a variable value for. If a check box is not selected, no value will be added to the properties file for that project or binding.
    Note: If you generate a variable value for an application binding, it will override any values that are contained in associated bundles.
  4. In the Value column, enter the value that the variable will resolve to for the associated project or binding.
  5. Click Next.
  6. The next pane provides a preview of the files that the wizard will change or create. If the changes are as you require, click Finish.

Results

The resource definition in the editor is updated and properties files are updated or created as required.

Example

Extract value to variable dialog

What to do next

Build the projects and then resolve them by using the CICS® build toolkit. For more information, see Resolving variables in a CICS bundle in the CICS TS V5.4.0 product documentation.