What's new in version 0.5.2

Version 0.5.2 adds further enhancements to IBM CICS Explorer. Here is a description of the more significant new items available in this version.

New function
Ability to connect to a single CICS region You can now connect the CICS Explorer to a single CICS region.

Using the new CICS management client interface (CMCI) you can now connect the CICS Explorer to a single CICS region. You must first set up the CICS management client interface in the CICS region, and then connect to the region using the CICS Explorer Connections Preferences page.

See Setting up the CICS management client interface in a CICS region in the CICS Transaction Server for z/OS version 4.1 for further information.

Ability to sort data in a view

You can now sort the resource data in a view.

The data in a view is initially sorted in an ascending alphabetic order. In the administration views, the sort is based on the resource name. In the operations views, the sort is based on the region followed by the key field, which is usually Name or ID. You can now sort the data in a column by clicking the column header on which you want the sorting to be based. The data can be sorted in ascending or descending order.

See Sorting data in a view

Ability to create a Resource Group definition Using the New wizard dialog in CICS Explorer you can now select and create a Resource Group definition from the supplied list, enter the basic details required to create the new resource, and then add additional information using the resource editor.

See Creating resources for further information.

Ability to perform actions against multiple resources

You can now perform actions against multiple resources. You select one or more resources in a view using the Ctrl or shift keys, and then right click the selection to choose an action.

The action is performed against each resource in turn. If the action fails for one of the resources, processing halts and an error message is displayed giving the reason for the failure.

Ability to collect all problem determination information from one action

Should you have a problem with the CICS Explorer, you can now collect all problem determination information and package it in a compressed file ready for sending to your service representative.

When you select Explorer > Trace > Collect Service Data from the workbench menu, all log and configuration files are collected into one compressed file and saved on your workstation in a location you choose. This file can be sent to the IBM service representative when requested.

See Preparing error data for IBM service for more information.

Ability to add your own documentation to the CICS Explorer

If your organization has system operating processes and procedures, you might want to include them in the CICS Explorer Help Contents so they are available while using the CICS Explorer. You can create your own documentation plug-in and integrate it fully with the CICS Explorer Help Contents, or as an interim step, you can integrate existing HTML and text files with the CICS Explorer Help search function.

Documentation contained in a plug-in is displayed in the CICS Explorer Help Contents view and is included when you search for information. When you integrate HTML or text files, the information is not displayed in the Help Contents but is included when you perform a search.

See Adding additional help documentation to the CICS Explorer for more information.

Changes to existing function
Changes to the resource filter

Using the resource filter you can now filter on single or multiple properties in a view.

You select the properties to filter on using the view menu. Each property has and associated filter field as shown in the screen capture, A screen capture of the Programs view showing 2 filter fields - Name and Status - in the view.and you can filter using wildcards on one or more properties.

See The resource filter for more information.

Changes to the workbench menu

Two new menu items are added to the workbench menu bar:

  • RTA, which includes the Events sub-menu
  • WLM, which includes the Active Workloads sub-menu
Changes to navigating between resources

You can now navigate from a Web Services resource to a related Pipeline or URI Map resource.

You navigate by right-clicking the Web Services resource, and selecting Open related > Pipeline or Open Related > URI Map from the context menu.

Changes to existing message text in the documentation

Some message text in the documentation is changed.

In some of the message text in the CICS Explorer documentation, links are now provided to the CICS Transaction Server for z/OS version 4.1 Information Center to assist with problem determination. In addition, some error messages have been enhanced with additional

View changes
New views

Administration views

One new administration view has been added in this version. The view is:

  • JVM Server Definitions (JVMSVDEF) view

The view is accessible from the Administration menu on the toolbar.

Operations views

Four new operations views have been added in this version. The views are:

  • Libraries (LIBRARY) view
  • Active Workload (WLMAWORK) view
  • JVM Server (JVMSERV) view
  • Capture Specification (EVCSPEC) view

The views are accessible from the Operations menu on the toolbar.