Using the composite update site

You can use the composite update site to update your z/OS® Explorer or other compatible product software, or add new software plug-ins such as additional tools.

For z/OS Explorer Version 2.1 and later, you can use the composite update site, which simplifies the installation of updates to z/OS Explorer software plug-ins. When a composite update site is present and you click Help > Install New Software, software plug-ins for additional tools are listed as well as z/OS Explorer.

The update site for z/OS Explorer is already coded in the product. You can see the site address in the Available Software Sites pane on the Preferences window.

If you are using the z/OS Explorer SDK and you installed the SDK by using the composite update site, you can click Help > Check for Updates to check for new versions of the z/OS Explorer and any tools you have installed. If you installed the SDK by downloading the compressed file, the composite update site is not available.

The URLs of composite update sites include the version number of z/OS Explorer or other compatible product software that they relate to. For example, if the composite update site URL contains the version number 5.1, you will receive any modification and fix updates for Version 5 Release 1 of the product, but not any new releases or versions. Eclipse, and therefore z/OS Explorer or other compatible product software, always offers the latest available version when you check for updates. If you choose to not accept an update, you will NOT be notified if a new fix level (for instance 5.1.0.1) becomes available. For example, if you have version 5.1.0.0 and are offered a modification level update to version 5.1.1.0 but decline it, you will NOT be notified if fix level 5.1.0.1 becomes available.

You are always offered the very latest code that is available in the whole composite update site. If you declined a new fix level, you must check manually whether any new updates are available. Click Help > Install New Software and remove the option that selects only the latest versions of software. You will receive all updates to any tools you have installed (such as IBM® CICS® Configuration Manager) that are compatible with the version of z/OS Explorerthat the composite update site relates to. Review the version numbers before upgrading a component.

If you want to control the updates that end users can move to for both z/OS Explorer and plug-ins, you need to remove the composite update site from z/OS Explorer and select another site manually. For more information, see Adding a new software update site.