Viewing and working with generation data groups

You can display and work with generation data groups in the Remote Systems view.1

You must be connected to a z/OS® system with generation data group resources.
A generation data group (GDG) is a group of related data sets. Each data set within a GDG is called a generation data set (GDS) or generation. A GDG base is a catalog entry for a GDG, and represents a GDG. The IBM® Explorer for z/OS GDG support allows for the display and manipulation of GDGs and GDSs in the Remote Systems view. The Remote z/OS Search view allows for displaying and working with GDSs. 2

A GDGE is an extended GDG. A GDG has a limit of 255 generations whereas a GDGE has a limit of 999. Starting from V3.2.0.15, in the z/OS Explorer client, an Extended checkbox is available in the Define Data Generation Group... wizard. When you select the Extended checkbox, the created GDG will be a GDGE. If the host system or the z/OS Explorer server does not support GDGEs, this checkbox will be disabled.

All functions available for data sets are available for GDSs, except the following functions:
Add a GDG to a subproject
You can add a GDS in a GDG to a subproject and perform any operations available for a data set, but you cannot add a GDG as a group to a subproject.
Search with a GDG
The Search action is disabled for GDGs so that you cannot search in a GDG. Search results do not include GDGs. Search results do include GDSs, and you can perform any operation available for a data set.
Copy a GDG
The Copy action is disabled for GDGs. You cannot copy an entire GDG.
Paste to a GDG
The Paste action is disabled for GDGs. You cannot paste a data set into a GDG.
Rename a GDG
The Rename action is disabled for GDGs. You cannot rename an entire GDG.

For more information about displaying and working with GDGs and GDSs, see the following topics.

1 For IDz users, you can also display and work with generation data groups in the z/OS Projects view.
2 For IDz users, the z/OS Projects view also allows for displaying and working with GDSs.
3 For IDz users, the MVS Files subsystem Properties view also displays the following information:
Property Group Name
The name of the property group that is associated with the subsystem.
Property Group Overrides
Whether any values in the property group were overridden: Yes or No.