The tutorial introduces the CICS Explorer® and
outlines the basic functions to help you start using it. You can find
additional information in the Tasks section in this help.
Starting CICS Explorer for the first time
CICS Explorer uses
a local workspace to save its data and configuration files. When CICS Explorer starts up for
the first time, it uses the default workspace location. The default
workspace name is .cicsexplorer, and the location
for the workspace depends on the operating system you are using. The
location that is used is shown in the CICS Explorer title bar. If you already
have a workspace that you used previously, you can use the Switch Workspace function
to use the existing workspace.
The workbench
The workbench is a single window that consists of views and perspectives.
Managing SSL security and certificates
You can make the connection between CICS Explorer and your CICS® system more secure by using
the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
Configuring a CICS system connection
You must establish a connection between CICS Explorer and
your CICS systems before you
can view any information. You must provide details about the system
connection, its location, and its authentication requirements.
Disabling function by using Eclipse Capabilities
When CICS
Explorer first starts, all functional components are available
to use by default. However, you can use the Eclipse Capabilities function
to disable or enable components, and so limit the function available
to use.
Perspectives
A perspective is a layout of one or more views in the workbench.
You can decide how you want to lay out the views in the CICS Explorer and save the layout as
a new perspective. CICS
Explorer provides four default perspectives: CICS SM, Resource, SM Administration, and z/OS®. These tasks describe the
perspectives and explain how to work with perspectives to meet your
operational requirements.
Views
A view is a visual component in the workbench. The CICS Explorer displays
resource information in views. You can decide on the size and position
of the views, and what information to show in them. These tasks explain
how to work with the views to meet your operational requirements.
Editors
An editor is a visual component in the Workbench that is
used to edit or browse CICSPlex® SM
or CICS resources or resource
definitions. The editor shares many functions with the other views
but also has some limitations that are identified in the following
topics.
Getting help
Use the online help system to browse, search, and print
system documentation. The help system also provides a context-sensitive
help that gives an overview of the resource with which you are working,
and a text search capability for finding the information you need
by keyword. You can also broaden the search scope to include external
sources of information. The help is displayed either in a Help
view in the workbench, in a separate Help Contents window, or in an
external browser window.