Requesting IMS Data

The File-AID Data Editor IMS Request dialog captures your options for accessing IMS data. You can provide record layouts and specify DLI datasets and processing options. You can also establish other display and run options such as Browse mode or Edit mode. You can save and re-use your request, making it easy to access your data the same way the next time you access this object. Your recently used requests are listed on the Data Editor menu accessed by clicking the toolbar File-AID icon image2021-8-18_12-2-1.png and selecting Data Editor.

Supported Database Types

The File-AID Data Editor supports most IMS database types. Currently not supported are MSDB databases and editing of Secondary index databases. The DEDB Fast Path database is restricted to BMP mode processing.

Creating a New or Using a Saved Request

To create a new or use a saved request:

  1. At the top of the File-AID Data Editor IMS Request window, enter a Request Name to create a new request, or select a request name from the request name pull-down list to use an existing request. 

    Important

    If you try to create a request with a name that has already been used, a message will appear asking whether you want to overwrite the existing request. IMS Request Names by a single user, or all users in a single workspace, must be unique even for different databases. If you have requests for several databases and have trouble remembering what request names you have already used, you could use naming conventions for your requests where requests for a specific DBD start with a specific letter or group of letters.

    Example

    Requests for DBDs for the Human Resources department could start with HR and requests for the Sales department could start with SA. Then, request name HRTest would be different from SATest.

    Database Access Options

  2. When requesting data from IMS, you may specify the type of IMS region you wish to use. When accessing your IMS data with Region type BMP, database data is defined to the online region defined in the currently selected environment. If you choose DLI processing, the IMS environment is set up by merging your DLI options with the currently selected environment. With DLI, additional inputs are provided to enable you to override the environment defaults.

    Important

    When you access Fast Path (DEDB) databases or databases in a Managed Catalog environment, you are limited to BMP mode processing because the database data is only available to, and controlled by, the IMS subsystem region. See the File-AID for IMS Release Notes for more information.

  3. When using DLI region type, the File-AID Data Editor first attempts to determine if dynamic allocation (MDA) members are present to identify dataset names for all DBD/DDNAME physical datasets of the selected database. If dynamic allocation datasets are found, they are listed and indicated via the Use database datasets: From Dynamic Allocation MDA members DLI option. Select Use database datasets: Specified below to specify your own database datasets and to override the dynamic allocation DSNs.

    Important

    When you access HALDB databases, database datasets are defined in the IMS Recon datasets and indicated via the Use Database Datasets: From Recon Datasets DLI option. You may not specify your own database datasets when accessing a HALDB database.

    In addition to defining your access options, you may also provide COBOL or PL/I source layouts to be used to format segment data. You may specify or override the Environment defaults for XREF and Source libraries on the Record Layouts tab.

    Access Options

  4. The Access Options tab of the Database Access and Record Layout Options section of the request is where you choose your IMS processing options.

    Environment and Database Info

  5. At the top of the access options is a description of the current environment you have chosen. To see more details of the current environment, press the View Environment button.
    In addition to the Environment, information about the type of database you have chosen is displayed for your reference.

    Region Type

  6. For most databases, you may choose BMP or DLI processing. With BMP processing, database datasets are defined to the IMS control region. With DLI processing, database datasets are specified in the request and are either defined in the Environment via dynamic allocation members (MDA) or specified explicitly by you in the Database datasets section of the Access Options. Note: Fast Path databases (DEDB) may only be accessed in BMP mode, and DLI mode is not an option.

    DLI Processing

    When choosing DLI mode, you may override environment defaults and specify IMS log file handling and your own database datasets.

    DLI Options

    DLI options allow you to specify your database datasets and override the IMS defaults in the environment.

    DLI Database Datasets

  7. Upon entry to the IMS Request, the File-AID Data Editor examines your selected database and looks for dynamic allocation MDA members in the environment with database datasets for your database. If MDA members are found, the Use Database Datasets From IMS Dynamic allocation radio button is selected and enabled, and the dataset names are displayed in the DLI Database dataset Specification grid. If no MDA member is found for your database, you must specify all dataset names for all DDNAMEs in your database. 

    Important

    For HALDB databases, datasets used to access the database are defined in the Recon datasets, and you may not enter your own dataset names.

    Dynamic Allocation Datasets

  8. When dynamic allocations are found for your database datasets, they are presented and locked in the Database Datasets Specification grid. If you wish to override them, you must select the Specify IMS database datasets radio button and enter the dataset names in the Database Dataset Specification grid.

    Specifying Database Datasets

  9. Enter the dataset name for each DD in your database. Optionally, you may use the list control to view recently entered dataset names for each DDname.

    Browse for Datasets

  10. You may also click on a dataset name and use the [...] control to display the Dataset Selection dialog where you may search the catalog for each dataset.

    Override IMS Environment Parameters

    A special collapsible section is provided to allow you to override IMS environment parameters.
    Click on the section control icon image2021-8-18_12-3-37.png or the Override IMS environment parameters text to expand the section to access overrides for Log File allocation, DLI Parms, and IMS Datasets.

    Important

    For HALDB databases the Overrides section is automatically expanded to enable you to easily override the RECON datasets containing the database datasets to use for this IMS session.

    You must open the Override IMS Environment section to be able to access the controls discussed in the following subsections of this topic:

    • IMS Log File
    • DLI Parms
    • IMS Datasets

    IMS Log File

  11. You can determine your IMS log file handling by using the IMS log file combo list pull-down to select one of three choices:

    • Allocate and keep: An IMS log file is automatically created for you and cataloged at the end of your editing session.
    • Allocate and delete: An IMS log file is automatically created for you and deleted at the end of your editing session. Do not use this option when database recovery is active.
    • No log: No log file is allocated or used. Do not use this option when database recovery is active.

    DLI Parms

  12. Three DLI parms are available for you to use to control the behavior of your DLI connection.

    • DBRC (database recovery and control)
    • IRLM (internal resource lock manager)
    • BKO (backout).

    Each of the parms has three settings:

    • Default (use whatever is defined in the Environment)
    • Yes (override the environment setting and activate the feature)
    • No (override the environment setting and deactivate the feature).

    IMS Datasets

    You may override the IMS datasets defined in the environment by entering your own dataset names here for various IMS datasets used to establish the DLI connection to IMS.

    Enter the dataset name for each DDname. Optionally, you may use the list control to view recently entered dataset names for each DDname. You may also use the Browse button to display the Dataset Selection dialog where you may search the catalog for each dataset.

    DDnames available for override are:

    • RECON1 - 1st RECON dataset
    • RECON2 - 2nd RECON dataset
    • RECON3 - 3rd RECON dataset
    • DFSRESLB1 - 1st DFSRESLB dataset
    • DFSRESLB2 - 2nd DFSRESLB dataset
    • DFSVSAMP - IRLM, OSAM, and VSAM settings.

    Using Record Layouts

    The Record Layouts tab of the Database Access and Record Layout Options provides access to fields where you can override the Environment defaults and specify your own IMS XREF dataset and Source layout libraries.

  13. The Use record layouts checkbox initial state is controlled by a preference. The default is that it is selected and that you will be using Record Layouts to format your IMS data. It is expected that your environment provides XREF dataset(s) and source layout dataset(s). If the environment does not provide XREF and source layout datasets, you must either provide them on the Record Layouts tab or uncheck the Use record layouts checkbox.

    Important

    Be sure that the Language type (COBOL or PL/I) matches the source libraries you supply or which are defined in the environment.

  14. The XREF member name defaults to the DBD name of the database you are requesting access to:
    XREF members are defined via the XREF utility of File-AID for IMS.

  15. The XREF dataset and Source layouts dataset(s) may be typed in, selected via the pull-down control from the list of recently entered datasets, or populated by using the Browse button to activate the Dataset Selection dialog and then selecting a dataset name from the catalog. 

    Important

    The icon appears when the data set is already defined in the selected Environment. It means that you do not have to specify a dataset and can default to the dataset specified in the Environment. If you do specify your own dataset, it will override the Environment dataset. If no icon appears, there is no dataset defined in the Environment and you need to specify your own datasets or the usage of Record Layouts will not function. Use the View Environment button to access the Environment datasets.

    Starting Segment Options

    The Starting Segment tab of the Database Access and Record Layout Options provides direct access to a specific database segment by specifying the segment's starting key.

  16. To specify a starting segment, check the Start at a specific segment checkbox.
  17. Select the desired segment from the Segment name pull-down control.
  18. If the Use record layouts checkbox on the Record Layouts tab was checked, one or more layout members may be available from the Layout member pull-down control. Select the desired layout member from the list.
  19. In the Key Specification area, select an Operator from the pull-down control.

  20. Enter values for the desired key in the Field Value column. You can use the hexadecimal value editor for CHAR, VARCHAR, GRAPHIC, and VARGRAPHIC field data types by first selecting the field, then right-clicking and choosing Hex Edit. The Hexadecimal Value Editor appears. For more information, see Hexadecimal Value Editor.

    Query and Display Options

  21. Enter the Segments to display per page. The default is 2000. 

    Important

    The Segments to display per page is set in the Windows > Preferences > Compuware > File-AID Data Editor preferences.

    Run Mode Settings

  22. Specify whether you want to view your data in Browse or Edit mode. Edit is the default. If you select Edit, specify whether to Enable Auditing. Enabled is the default.

    Important

    The Segments to display per page and enable auditing defaults are set in the Windows > Preferences > Compuware > File-AID Data Editor (IMS tab) preferences.

    Request Actions

  23. Once you have completed your request, it is a good practice to assign a Request Name and click Save to ensure that you can reuse the IMS request in the future.

  24. Click Run. You will navigate to the data display view.

    Important

    After you navigate to the data display, you can return to the Request by clicking the Return to Request link where you may choose to change your request options. Then click Run again, and your data display view will be updated immediately with the new Request options.

  25. Click Close to exit the request dialog.
  26. To delete a saved request permanently, click Delete.
  27. To return to the last saved state of a request, use the Revert button.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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