z/VSE Files

In the object workspace, the z/VSE files are shown when you expand the Files folder of a z/VSE node. Example:

Files folder

This document covers the following topics:

Filtering z/VSE Files

Before displaying z/VSE files, you can define a filter so that only those files are shown which correspond to your filter criteria.

Start of instruction setTo define a filter

  1. In the object workspace, select the Files folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Filter.

    Or:
    Press F3.

    The following dialog box appears:

    Filter files

  3. Enter the filter criteria.

    Option Description
    Library/Dataset name The files that are to be displayed. You can use a combination of strings and wildcards (* and _) to display the files matching the dataset name pattern.
    Volume

    If you do not specify a volume, only the files are listed which are currently known to Entire System Server.

    If you do specify a volume, the files contained in the specified volume are listed.

    VSAM catalog Name of VSAM catalog where the library is kept. Not required if dataset is defined in standard labels.
    Password System password if the files are protected. Must be specified irrespective of read or write protection.

  4. Choose the OK button.

Listing z/VSE Files

The number of objects shown in the list view window depends on whether or not a filter has been defined for the z/VSE files (see Filtering z/VSE Files).

Start of instruction setTo list z/VSE files

  1. In the object workspace, select the Files folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose List.

    Or:
    Press F8.

    The list view window appears.

    The type of information contained in the list view window depends on whether or not filter criteria for Volume have been defined (see Filtering z/VSE Files).

The following topics are covered below:

No Volume has been specified

When a volume has not been specified with the Filter command, only the files are listed which are currently known to Entire System Server. Example:

List files

Since no volume was specified, the list of files appears as shown above with the following columns:

Column Description
Dataset Name Name of the file.
Volume Volume serial number.
Type Library type. Possible values:
<blank> No librarian file.
LIBR z/VSE librarian file.
File Name Library name (standard label or name generated by Entire System Server (NPRLnnn)).
Class Device class, for example:
DASD Direct access.
TAPE Tape.
Series Device series.

A Volume has been specified

When a volume has been specified with the Filter command, the files contained in the specified volume are shown. Example:

List files

Since a volume was specified, the list of files appears as shown above with the following columns:

Column Description
Dataset Name Name of the file.  
Relative Size For a CKD disk: Starting block and number of blocks on which the file resides.
For an FBA disk: Size of the file in blocks.
Organization Dataset organization. Possible values:
DA Direct access.
SD Sequential disk.
UN Unknown or unidentified.
VS VSAM.
Extents Number of extents.
Begin Combination of "Starting cylinder head" and "block number" on which the file resides.
End Combination of "Ending cylinder head" and "block number" on which the file resides.
Expiration Date Date on which the file will expire. Until this date is reached, each attempt to update or delete the file will cause a console message, requiring an operator reply.

Managing Recent z/VSE Files

Mainframe Navigation internally maintains a list of the 100 files most recently accessed by the user. This list is stored at the end of a session and is read when Mainframe Navigation is started.

The following topics are covered below:

Listing Recent z/VSE Files

All commands that are available for files can also be invoked from the list of recent files.

Start of instruction setTo list recently-used z/VSE files

  1. In the object workspace, select the Files folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose My Recent Files.

    The list view window containing recently-used files appears in the content pane. Example:

    Recent files

    The list view window contains the following columns:

    Column Description
    Dataset Name Name of the file.
    Volume Volume serial number.
    Type Library type. Possible values:
    <blank> No librarian file.
    LIBR z/VSE librarian file.
    VSAM Cat Name of the VSAM catalog where the library is kept.
    Last Access Date (YYYY-MM-DD) and time the file was last accessed.

Removing a z/VSE File from the List of Recent Files

You can remove a file from the list of recent files. This does not delete the file on the server.

Start of instruction setTo remove a z/VSE file from the list of recent files

  1. In the list of recent files, select the dataset to be removed.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Remove from list.

Synchronizing the List of Recent Files for z/VSE Files

You can synchronize the list of recent files with the data on the server. List entries which no longer exist on the server (for example, because they have been renamed or deleted) are deleted from the list of recent files.

Start of instruction setTo synchronize the list of recent files for z/VSE files

  1. In the object workspace, select the Files folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Synchronize.

    A dialog box appears, asking to confirm the synchronize function for the selected object.

  3. Choose the Yes button to synchronize the list of recent files.

Allocating a z/VSE File

This command is generally issued for an existing file. The allocation information for the existing item is displayed and you can overwrite the name and modify the specifications for the new item.

Start of instruction setTo allocate a z/VSE file

  1. In the object workspace, select a file either in the Files folder or in the z/VSE Volumes folder.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Allocate.

    The following window appears in the content pane:

    Allocate file

  3. Enter a new name for the file and enter or change other parameters as described in the table below:

    Option Description
    Node Node containing the file.
    Name File name.
    Volume Serial number of the volume on which the file is to be allocated.
    Device type If you do not specify a volume, specify the generic identifier from which a volume is to be selected (for example, 3380).
    Organization Possible values:
    SD Sequential disk.
    SD/L Sequential disk, Librarian file.
    VS VSAM.
    VS/L VSAM, Librarian file.
    DA Direct access.
    Extent start Track number on CKD disks and block number on FBA disks on which extent is to start. If you leave this text box blank, any free space is found and allocated.
    Extent size Tracks on CKD disks and blocks on FBA disks.
    Expiration date Date when the file expires. Until this date is reached, each attempt to update or delete the file causes a console message, requiring an operator reply.

  4. Choose the OK button.

    A dialog box appears, informing you that the file was allocated at a specific track number.

  5. Choose the Yes button to allocate another file.

    Or:
    Choose the No button to finish allocation.

Displaying the Properties of a z/VSE File

You can display information about a z/VSE file.

Start of instruction setTo display the properties of a z/VSE file

  1. In the object workspace, select the appropriate file in the Files folder.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Properties.

    Or:
    Press ALT+ENTER.

    The following dialog box appears:

    File properties

    The following information is shown in this dialog box:

    Option Description
    Dataset name Name of the file.
    Volume Serial number of the volume on which the file is allocated.
    Device type If a volume is not specified, this is the generic identifier from which a volume is to be selected (for example, 3380).
    Organization Dataset organization. Possible values:
    DA Direct access.
    SD Sequential disk.
    UN Unknown or unidentified.
    VS VSAM.
    Record format For example:
    FB Fixed block.
    VB Variable block.
    FBA Fixed block, ANSI control characters.
    Record length Logical record length in bytes.
    Block size Block size in bytes.
    Allocation Allocated cylinders and tracks.
    Allocated extents Number of extents.
    Security Security status. Possible values:
    NONE Not password-protected.
    READ Password-protected for read and write operations.
    WRITE Password-protected for write operations.
    Creation date File creation date in format YYYY-MM-DD.
    Expiration date Date when the file expires. Until this date is reached, each attempt to update or delete the file causes a console message, requiring an operator reply.

Filtering the Sublibraries of a z/VSE File

See Filtering the Sublibraries of a z/VSE File in the section z/VSE Sublibraries.