Master CICS Explorer IDE navigation including perspectives and views, resource tree navigation, resource properties, and filtering for efficient CICS management.
IDE navigation in CICS Explorer is essential for efficient CICS development and management. Understanding perspectives, views, resource tree navigation, and filtering capabilities enables developers and administrators to work effectively with CICS systems and resources.
By the end of this tutorial, you'll understand CICS Explorer IDE navigation, perspectives and views usage, resource tree navigation techniques, resource properties management, and filtering capabilities for efficient CICS resource management.
IDE navigation in CICS Explorer involves understanding and using the various perspectives, views, and navigation tools to efficiently manage CICS resources. It provides organized access to CICS functionality through intuitive interfaces and structured information display.
Think of IDE navigation like using a well-organized filing system in a modern office. Instead of having papers scattered everywhere, you have different drawers (perspectives) for different types of work, folders (views) for specific information, and a clear filing system (resource tree) that helps you find exactly what you need quickly.
In CICS Explorer, IDE navigation means having organized ways to access all your CICS resources - programs, transactions, files, and more - through different views and perspectives that are designed for specific tasks like development, administration, or monitoring.
Perspectives in CICS Explorer are predefined arrangements of views and editors optimized for specific tasks. Views are individual panels that display specific information, providing focused access to CICS functionality and organized information display.
Development perspective for CICS application development:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637Development Perspective Components: 1. CICS Resource Tree View - Hierarchical resource display - Resource type organization - Region-based grouping - Resource status indicators 2. Source Code Editor - Syntax highlighting - Code completion - Error detection - Formatting capabilities 3. Properties View - Resource attributes - Configuration settings - Status information - Dependency relationships 4. Problems View - Compilation errors - Validation warnings - Resource conflicts - Resolution suggestions 5. Console View - Build output - Deployment messages - Error messages - System notifications Example Development Workflow: 1. Open Development Perspective 2. Navigate to CICS Resource Tree 3. Select program resource 4. Edit source code in editor 5. View properties and dependencies
Administration perspective for CICS system management:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637Administration Perspective Components: 1. CICS Region View - Region status monitoring - Resource utilization - Performance metrics - System health indicators 2. Resource Management View - Resource definitions - Resource status - Resource operations - Resource monitoring 3. System Configuration View - System parameters - Configuration settings - Environment variables - System properties 4. Security View - User management - Access control - Security policies - Audit information 5. Operations View - System operations - Maintenance tasks - Backup procedures - Recovery operations Example Administration Workflow: 1. Open Administration Perspective 2. Monitor region status 3. Manage resources 4. Configure system settings 5. Perform maintenance tasks
Resource tree navigation provides hierarchical access to CICS resources organized by type and region. It allows browsing, searching, and managing CICS resources through an intuitive tree structure that reflects the organization of CICS systems and resources.
Understanding and using the resource tree structure:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334Resource Tree Structure: 1. Region Level ├── CICS Region (CICS1) │ ├── Programs │ │ ├── PROG001 │ │ ├── PROG002 │ │ └── PROG003 │ ├── Transactions │ │ ├── TRAN001 │ │ ├── TRAN002 │ │ └── TRAN003 │ ├── Files │ │ ├── FILE001 │ │ ├── FILE002 │ │ └── FILE003 │ └── Terminals │ ├── TERM001 │ ├── TERM002 │ └── TERM003 2. Resource Type Organization - Programs (PPT entries) - Transactions (PCT entries) - Files (FCT entries) - Terminals (TCT entries) - Queues (TCT entries) - Journals (JCT entries) 3. Navigation Features - Expand/collapse nodes - Context menus - Drag and drop - Multi-selection - Keyboard shortcuts
Advanced search and filtering capabilities:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Search and Filtering Features: 1. Basic Search - Resource name search - Wildcard patterns (*, ?) - Case-sensitive options - Search scope selection 2. Advanced Filtering - Resource type filtering - Status-based filtering - Region-based filtering - Property-based filtering 3. Search Options - Search in resource names - Search in properties - Search in descriptions - Search in dependencies 4. Filter Criteria - Resource status (Active, Inactive) - Resource type (Program, Transaction) - Region association - Security attributes Example Search Patterns: - Name: PROG* - Type: Program - Status: Active - Region: CICS1 - Properties: Contains "BATCH"
Resource properties and attributes provide detailed information about CICS resources, including configuration settings, status information, dependencies, and operational characteristics. Understanding these properties is essential for effective resource management.
Using the Properties view for resource information:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334Properties View Features: 1. Resource Information - Resource name and type - Resource description - Creation and modification dates - Resource status 2. Configuration Properties - Resource parameters - Configuration settings - Environment variables - System properties 3. Operational Properties - Current status - Performance metrics - Usage statistics - Error information 4. Dependencies - Resource dependencies - Dependent resources - Relationship mapping - Impact analysis Example Program Properties: Name: PROG001 Type: Program Status: Active Language: COBOL Library: APPLIB Size: 45,678 bytes Last Modified: 2024-01-15 Dependencies: FILE001, TRAN001
Editing and modifying resource properties:
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132Property Editing Features: 1. Editable Properties - Resource descriptions - Configuration parameters - Environment settings - Security attributes 2. Validation - Input validation - Range checking - Format verification - Dependency validation 3. Change Management - Change tracking - Approval workflows - Rollback capabilities - Change history 4. Batch Operations - Bulk property updates - Template application - Property inheritance - Mass configuration Example Property Edit: Property: Description Old Value: "Customer program" New Value: "Customer management program" Validation: Passed Change Status: Pending Approval Effective Date: Next deployment
IDE navigation and resource management in CICS Explorer provides organized, efficient access to CICS functionality through perspectives, views, and resource tree navigation. Understanding these navigation techniques enables effective CICS development and administration.
Mastering IDE navigation, perspectives and views usage, resource tree navigation, and property management is essential for efficient CICS resource management and optimal productivity in CICS development and administration tasks.