Exporting connections

You can export one or more connections to an external file to back them up or to share with other users. If you save the connection file on a shared disk, or upload it to a web server, users can load the connection details into their z/OS® Explorer. Any changes to the shared connection file are picked up automatically the next time the user starts z/OS Explorer.

You can export some or all of your connections to an external file. You can export connections that you created locally, and connections that you have imported. The file can be used by an individual user, or shared among many users.
Note: RSE connections cannot be exported with the method specified in this topic. Refer to Remote System Explorer Profilesthe Remote System Explorer Profiles topic and Creating a second profile the Creating a second profile topic in the Generic RSE User's Guide for creating and duplicating RSE profiles.
  1. Start from the Host Connections view. To open this view, click Window > Manage Connections on the main menu of the workbench.
  2. Click the Export Connections to File icon in the toolbar of the view.
  3. In the Export Connections to File window, select the connections that you want to export from the list of locally created and statically imported connections.
    You can expand and collapse the list, and use the following icons and buttons:
    • Expand All icon. Expand the connection types and show all the connections.
    • Collapse All icon. Collapse the connections and show only the connection types.
    • Show Links icon. Show the connections that are loaded from an external connections file.
    • Select All. Select all the connections.
    • Deselect All. Deselect all the connections.
  4. Optional: Type, or browse for, a location and file name for the exported file in File Location.
    By default, the file is named my_connections.pref and is saved in your current workspace. You must use a file type of .pref.
  5. Click OK.
    The selected connections are exported as an XML file with a file type of .pref. The file is saved at the specified location.

You can now share your connections with other users. If you place the file in a central location, other users can load or import the connections into their copy of z/OS Explorer.

It is possible, but not advisable, to edit the file in a text editor. If you change the connection information in the file, you must maintain the structure, otherwise the import, or load might fail. The connection IDs are generated and used by z/OS Explorer, and any changes to the IDs might cause the connections to fail.