Exploring extracted data

Edit online

Use the extract files tools to view and browse the contents of extract files that you have created by using IBM® Optim Archive for z/OS® flows.

You can browse to view specific extract files, browse the tables and data they contain, and confirm that your extraction operations produced the expected results. You can also launch the flow builder to configure a restore flow for the extracted data.

By viewing extract files directly in the IBM Optim Archive for z/OS interface, you can quickly drill down from extract files to individual tables and examine sample data rows directly within the application, streamlining your data validation workflow. You maintain control over your extracted data and have comprehensive visibility into extraction metadata, table schemas, and actual data samples. You can search for specific extract files, navigate to associated job details to understand the extraction context, and delete extracts when they're no longer needed.

Whether you're performing data backups, migrations, or analysis, you can efficiently verify the accuracy of data extracts, track your extract operations, and manage the complete lifecycle of your extracted data files from a single interface.

Important: You cannot use the IBM Optim UI to work with VSAM data sources and targets. You must use the API to work with VSAM data. For information about using the API, see Using the IBM Optim Archive for z/OS REST API.

Viewing extract file summaries and log history

You can view a summary of an extract file, including source information, target information, and details about who created the extract and when.

From the summary page, you can also review the log history table to see how many times the extract job has been run and view associated log files.

To view an extract file summary:

  1. From the navigation menu, click Extract files icon Extract files to see a table showing the available extract files.
  2. Click the name of an extract file to see a summary of its contents, including source and target information, and details about who extracted the data and when.
  3. In the log history table, review the list of extract job runs for this file. Click the action menu to view or download log files.
  4. To export the IBM Optim Archive for z/OS logs associated with creating this extract file, click Export.

Browsing extracted data

To browse and view sample data from within an extract file:
  1. From the navigation menu, click Extract files icon Extract files.
  2. Locate the row for the extract file you want to view. Click the action menu at the end of the row and select Browse. You will see a list of the tables included in this extract file.
  3. From the list of tables, select the name of the table that you want to view. The table details page opens.
    • In the Columns tab, view details about the data columns in this table.
    • In the Data sample tab, view a sample of the data rows in this table.
  4. When you are done viewing the table details, close the page. Select any other tables that you want to view.