Creating a name transform rule set

When a new CICS® region is created, by using the CICS DA clone function, the new region must have unique z/OS® system variable names. The system variables include the application identifier (APPLID) and the system identifier (SYSID). You can create name transform rules, which CICS DA can then apply when the clone function is used to create a single CICS region.

About this task

A name transform rule is a mapping of one text string to another (typically with one or both containing wildcards) that can be applied to a name of a specific type of z/OS artifact. You can create a name transform rule set, which is a group of name transform rules. The list of rules, within a transform rule set are applied in order, to each name to be transformed. Each rule is associated with a Type of artifact that it applies to. When the rule is applied and a matching name is found that generates a different new name, any remaining rules are ignored and the new name is used.

You can create, modify, and delete name transform rules and name transform rule sets. The name transform rules and name transform rule sets are stored in the CICS DA model. Any changes must be uploaded to the CICS DA server. Depending on the type of CICS region that you want to clone, you can create a different set of rules. For example, you might want to create a set of rules to be used when you create a clone of a development CICS region that you then want to use as a test CICS region.

When a CICS region is cloned, the set of name transform rules can be applied to the following z/OS artifacts:
  • CICS and CICSPlex® SM (CPSM) data sets.
  • PROC members, apart from the PROC member that is specified in a start command.
  • INCLUDE members.
  • SYSIN data sets and specified data set members.
  • EYUPARM data sets and specified data set members.
Two wildcard options are supported. The wildcard options are:
  • "+" is used to match a single character.
  • "*" is used to match multiple characters.

Procedure

  1. In the CICS DA Explorer view, right-click the CICS DA server connection and click Name Transforms. The Edit name transform rule sets window opens. Any existing name transform rule sets are displayed.
    A screen capture example of the Edit name transform rule sets window.
  2. Click the New name transform rule set icon to generate a default New Transform Set name, which you can edit. Enter the name of the name transform rule set that you want to create.
  3. Click New Rule and select a Type of name that is to be transformed from the following list of artifacts:
    • Data Set
    • Member
    • Data Set with Member
    Important: When you add or edit a rule, what you enter is validated. If there are any problems, CICS DA flags the rule with an error icon and an error message is displayed. Errors are indicated by a white "x" in a red square. Correct the error and press enter to validate the rule. You must correct all of the errors before you can use the name transform rule set.
  4. Enter the pattern for the source type that CICS DA is to search for when it runs the single CICS clone function. You can enter one or more wildcards in the source pattern.
  5. Enter the pattern for the target type that CICS DA is to create when it runs the single CICS clone function. You can enter one or more wildcards in the target pattern.
  6. Add each of the different rules that you want to apply to the transform rule set.
    Attention: Within a name transform rule set, the rules are applied in order. Therefore, ensure that the rules are in the correct order. You can change the order by selecting a rule and then click Up or Down to move the rule to the position that you want.
  7. When you create all of your rules, check for and correct any CICS DA errors that are flagged for any of the rules. Then, click Finish to save your changes. If you do not want to save your changes, click Cancel.
    Important: You must click Finish to save any changes, which create, edit, or delete name transform rules or rule sets.
  8. After the rules are validated, you can select a name transform rule set and click Apply. The changes are uploaded to the CICS DA server and updated in the CICS DA model. The name transform rule set is now available to use when you run the clone function.
  9. To restore your name transform rule set to its previous saved state, click Revert.
  10. If you want to delete a name transform rule set from the CICS DA model and server, select the name transform rule set and click the Delete name transform rule set icon. The icon displays a red "X" in the lower left corner. Then, click Finish to delete the name transform rule set. If you do not want to delete the rule set, click Cancel. The following screen capture displays the icon to delete a name transform rule set and the hover help.
    Screen capture that shows the delete a rule set icon.