Getting started

File-AID for IMS is an interactive, full-screen system designed for the application development and maintenance environment that enables you to edit, browse, extract, and load IMS databases. File-AID for IMS significantly reduces the time required to create and maintain IMS test databases, view database information, and perform production troubleshooting activities.

The File-AID for IMS system consists of the following products:

  • File-AID for IMS/ISPF runs as a dialog under TSO/ISPF and can access both online and offline IMS databases.
  • File-AID for IMS/DC runs as a non-conversational MPP under IMS/DC and can access IMS databases that are allocated online to IMS.
  • File-AID for IMS/CICS runs as a pseudo-conversational transaction under CICS and can access IMS databases that are allocated online to CICS.
  • File-AID for IMS/FLEX allows larger amounts of updates and prints to take place in the background with input values supplied in a file.
  • File-AID for IMS/Fast Path provides access to IMS Fast Path databases.

Although File-AID for IMS supports both COBOL and PL/I programming languages, much of its processing is unaffected by the language used. Therefore, most of the text in this reference space is presented in a language-independent manner. In those instances where processing is affected by the language used, the COBOL perspective is presented first under its own subheading, followed by the PL/I perspective. The word COBOL or PL/I appears on many File-AID for IMS screens and reports, depending on the language used. This reference space uses COBOL as a default.

This section provides more information on the following topics:

 

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