What's new in Version 3.4

These new and enhanced capabilities are available in z/OS® Explorer Version 3.4.

Table 1. New and enhanced functions in V3.4.4
Function Description
Display an error message when a user cannot change to their home directory. When connecting to RSED, if the system is unable to change to the user’s home directory, a dialog pop-up should be displayed showing an error message.
Table 2. New and enhanced functions in V3.4.3
Function Description
Customizable default My Data Sets for the MVS files subsystem. The z/OS Explorer now allows users to customize the default My Data Sets filter within the MVS files subsystem. This can be configured through the following path: Preferences > Remote Systems > z/OS > MVS Files > MVS Filters.
Support for Symbolic link creation in z/OS Unix Files subsystem. Users can now create Symbolic links for selected files within the z/OS Unix files subsystem.
Support new Unicode file mode for z/OS Unix files in RSE view. A new Unicode file transfer mode has been introduced in the RSE view for z/OS Unix files, alongside the existing text, binary, and XML modes. This mode ensures proper handling of non-XML Unicode files ( .json, .js, .yaml) more accurately by transferring them as binary and rendering them in the editor using UTF-8 or BOM-detected encoding. Users can configure default file extensions or override settings on a per-file basis, ensuring accurate encoding without relying on host defaults.
Override cell values when exporting to CSV from RSE table. The z/OS Explorer now supports overriding cell values during CSV export from the RSE table.
Introduced a new configuration setting for z/OS UNIX files subsystem to prevent recursive directory deletion. The z/OS UNIX files subsystem previously permitted recursive deletion of directories, with only a basic warning. To mitigate the risk of accidental deletions of directories, a new setting RSE_UNIX_RESTRICTIVE_DELETE has been added. For more information, see rse.env, the RSE configuration file.
Table 3. New and enhanced functions in V3.4.2
Function Description
Validating z/OS Explorer and IDz client product minimum version requirement. The z/OS Explorer now can support the validation of z/OS Explorer and/or IDz client product minimum version requirement during connection time sent by client (of new releases), using the two environment settings MINIMUM_CLIENT_VERSIONS and MINIMUM_CLIENT_VERSIONS_VALIDATION_LEVEL. For more information, see rse.env, the RSE configuration file.
Customize the second qualifier of temporary data sets names used in load module copy. Using the new environment RSE_MVS_TEMP_QUALIFIER, z/OS Explorer host now can customize the second qualifier of the temporary data sets names used in load module copy operation. For more information, see rse.env, the RSE configuration file.
Support to enable the server to accept only client certificate authentication. RSE host now can be configured to accept only connections using client certificate authentication through the new environment _RSE_CLIENT_CERT_AUTH_ONLY. For more information, see rse.env, the RSE configuration file.
RSE table enhancements. The RSE table in z/OS Explorer has been enhanced with several key improvements, including a re-sizable column customization dialog, enhanced handling of custom columns, and a clearer distinction between columns for members and data sets.
Detection and warning of weak TLS certificates used in secure communication. When importing certificates under Preferences > Remote Systems > SSL/TLS or connecting to a secure server in z/OS Explorer, any weak TLS certificates used will be detected and a warning will be issued.
Enhanced icons in the Remote Systems view. Icons in the Remote Systems view are now updated to display a light blue indicator for connected subsystems, replacing the previous bright green arrow. Securely connected subsystems are additionally marked with a grey lock icon, located in the lower-right corner of the subsystem icon, providing an additional visual cue for secure connections.
Enable support for submitting jobs from the z/OS Unix Files subsystem. The z/OS Explorer now supports selecting JCL files directly from the z/OS Unix Files subsystem to submit the jobs.
Table 4. New and enhanced functions in V3.4.1
Function Description
Viewing data set expiration date. The z/OS Explorer now includes the attribute for expiration date when showing data sets in the Properties and RSE table views.
Showing TLS protocol and ciphers. Users can now view the TLS protocol and ciphers used in a secure connection in the status bar by selecting the corresponding subsystem in the Remote Systems view.
Host support for Java™ 21.0.4.0. Java IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition for z/OS 21.0.4.0 and higher are supported. For more information, see rse.env, the RSE configuration file.
Table 5. New and enhanced functions in V3.4.0
Function Description
Automatic ISPF STATS mode ON when modified a PDS member Added support to automatically turn on ISPF STATS for PDS member when it was edited and saved if it is not already on. The option can be enabled using the host environment setting RSE_AUTO_ISPF_STATS_SAVE=true.
Support to adjust the work area allocation in a catalog resume query as required with a customizable upper bound. RSE host now adjusts the work area size allocation to satisfy the minimum required size in a resume query. The upper bound of the adjustment can be set using the host environment RSE_MAX_CSI_WORK_AREA_SIZE.
Ability to open PDS members using Browse from the Remote Edit History view. The Remote Edit History view now supports opening data set members with Open and Browse.
Ability to launch a z/OS UNIX Shell from a filter. Users may now use the context menu on a filter to launch a z/OS UNIX Shell in the associated directory.