Creating application components from IBM Z mainframe data sets

Learn how to create an application component from an IBM® Z mainframe data set.

If you create application components from IBM Z mainframe data sets, DASDVOL READ access is sufficient. If the DASDVOL READ access is not granted, the access in SAF class DATASET to individual data sets and catalogs is checked. Retrieval of a data set requires READ access to that data set. If the master catalog must be retrieved, the ALTER access is needed.

To create a component from IBM Z mainframe data sets, you can input a filter string that is passed to z/OS via the REST API. Then, you can get a list of cataloged data sets that match the filter.

The filter string that is used to search data set list from z/OS follows the same rule of Dsname level in Data Set List Utility panel fields except one difference. ISPF automatically adds .** to the end of each filter string, but the Enterprise Edition needs wildcards at the end of the filter string to indicate that the filter string will match more characters. For example, 'IBMUSER' in ISPF means 'IBMUSER.**' in Enterprise Edition.

For the wildcards definition, see the following table:
Wildcards Definition
% Any single character
* Any number of characters within a single qualifier. You can follow or precede other parts of a qualifier as in a* or *b.
** Zero or more complete qualifiers
Restriction: You cannot specify only '*' or '**' as the filter string.
  • The restriction '**' is set to help you avoid retrieving all data sets unconsciously, which will be slow. But if you really want to retrieve all data sets, you can use '**.*.**'.
  • The restriction '*' is set to help you avoid getting the data sets with only one qualifier when you try to retrieve all data sets. But if you really want to retrieve data sets with only one qualifier, you can use '*.'.

Before you create application components from an existing IBM Z, you need to grant READ access to the SAF profile in class DASDVOL for the volumes that hold the data sets to be extracted to the user ID that runs Enterprise Edition, or grant read access to the data sets to be extracted to the user ID that runs Enterprise Edition.

To create application components from IBM Z data sets, complete the following steps:
  1. Click IBM Z mainframe DATA SETS on the QUICK START page, or click the left-top button to navigate to Create - Component > Data set - z mainframe.
  2. Login the specified IBM Z.
    Note: Contact your administrator if you do not have the information.
  3. Start of changeOptional: Select Remember my credential for this session.End of change
  4. Enter a component name.
  5. Optional: Enter comments that can help you identify your components.
  6. Enter a qualifier, and then select all data sets that are needed for the component.
  7. Click Create Component to complete.

    When you create an application component, the information about IBM Z and the selected data sets will be saved and extracted to the image store system to be used later in an application image.

Note: This process needs to be done by a system programmer, or someone that is familiar with IBM Z where the data is being extracted.
Parent topic: Creating application components from an existing IBM Z