Associating and overriding property groups

Associating a property group with a resource

1. In the z/OS Projects view or the Remote Systems view, select the MVS Files node, an MVS™ subproject, a data set or data set member, or a local COBOL, PL/I, or Assembler project, directory, or file.
   Note: When you associate a property group with an MVS subproject, this association does not apply to the files or data sets in other views, even if the files or data sets are part of the subproject. For example, a COBOL program might inherit one property group from a subproject, but a different property group from the partitioned data set that it is a member of in the Remote Systems view.
2. Right-click and select Property Group > Associate Property Group. The Associate Property Group window opens. The table view displays property groups that are defined for the system. You can sort the list by clicking the table headings. To reverse the sort order, click the table headings again.
3. Select the checkbox beside a property group to associate with the resource and click OK.

Finding the current properties of a resource

You can use the Properties view or Properties window to see the current property group for a resource.

• Use the Properties view to determine the property group that is associated with a resource.
  1. In the z/OS Projects view or Remote Systems view, select the resource for which you want to see properties. The Properties view shows the current property group for the resource. The Overrides field in this view indicates whether any property overrides are in effect for the resource.
     
  2. Open the Property Group Manager expand the system name for the resource of interest, and double-click the current property group of the resource. The Property Group Editor opens.
  3. To see property values for each category, select the corresponding tab.
• Use the Property Group page of the Properties window.
  1. In the z/OS Projects view or Remote Systems view, select the resource for which you want to see properties and then click Properties.
  2. In the Properties window, click Property Group. The current property group is marked by a selected checkbox in the table.

Overriding properties in a property group

When you associate a property group with a resource, it is referred to as the current property group. Actions such as build and syntax check use the information in the current property group to provide values for that resource. The current property group in parent resources is also the current property group for child resources, unless you explicitly set the current property group for child resources. For example, the current property group for an MVS subsystem is also the current property group for all data sets and members in the subsystem. You can explicitly set the current property group for a data set or member.

For a specific resource, you can override values for the properties in the resource's current property group. The overridden values do not affect any other resource, nor do they affect the property group itself; rather, they are local to the resource. In this way, you can work with variations in property groups. Using property overrides is a good way to change a property value for a specific purpose, such as testing the effect of a change before you propagate it to other resources. If the current property group for a resource is changed, the overridden values are deleted. You can specify property group overrides for partitioned data set members and for files in local z/OS® projects. Property group overrides are not available for MVS subprojects, partitioned data sets, the MVS Files node in the Remote Systems view, local projects, and directories in local projects.

A resource with property overrides displays Overrides Yes in the Property group section of the Properties view.

Overriding property group values

1. In the z/OS Projects or Remote Systems view, select a partitioned data set member or file in local z/OS project.
2. Right-click and select Property Group > Override Properties. The Property Group Editor opens.
3. Specify property values to be overridden in the property group.
4. Save your changes.

Note: Changing the property group association for a resource deletes any property overrides for that resource.

Deleting overrides

If you delete the overrides all property values revert to the current property group.

1. In the z/OS Projects or Remote Systems view, select a partitioned data set member or a file in a local z/OS project with property group overrides.
2. Right-click and select Property Group > Delete Overrides. The property values for the resource revert to the current property group.