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Mapping CICSPlex SM definitions

The WUI map function enables you to generate a visual representation of the relationships between resource definitions in the data repository.

The associations between CICS resource definitions defined to CICSPlex SM can be complex and difficult to visualize. For example, a CICS system can be associated with a specification and a specification might contain one or more groups. In turn there can be definitions within the groups. This type of structure is often portrayed as the branches of the tree and the WUI map function provides a method of generating a visual representation of this tree structure for a selected resource. This representation, called a map, can portray business application services (BAS), resource monitoring (MON), real-time analysis (RTA), or workload management (WLM) definitions. Maps allow you to verify that the relationships between your definitions are what you expect.

All IBM-supplied tabular and detailed views that display resource definitions include a map button. The map function is invoked by clicking this button. By default, the map displays definitions that are referred to by the selected definition, that is, it maps down level. This is called a map right operation. For example, if the selected resource is a WLM specification, the map displays associated WLM groups definitions and transaction groups. However, if your selected resource is already at the lowest level, for example a WLM transaction group or a BAS resource definition, the map displays all up-level relationships. In the case of a transaction group the map displays associated definitions, groups and specifications. This is called map left.

At the top of the map view are icons enabling you to do the following:

If you select more than one resource on a tabular view, you can click Next to display a map of the next selected resource.

By default the map is normally displayed in the fully expanded state. However you can alter this default behavior using the WUI server initialization parameter DEFAULTMAPCOLL., or for particular groups of users when specifying a user group profile.

The map itself is a table with between 4 and 18 columns. There are two different types of column on the map view; resource columns and connecting columns.

Resource columns contain the resource names of objects. The header shows the type of definition the column relates to, for example WLM specification, WLM group, and so on. Resource names act as hyperlinks. Clicking on one opens a detailed view of that resource.

Instead of resource names, resource columns may contain the following symbols:

Horizontal line
Indicates that there is a higher level resource name that is directly connected. There is no corresponding resource name.
Asterisks
Indicates that this row is in a collapsed state. This cell is at a lower level to the resource that performed the collapse.

Connecting columns appear between resources on the map view. The header of a connecting column contains an icon showing the direction in which the map should be read, that is, an arrow pointing right for a map right (down level) operation, and an arrow pointing left for a map left (up level) operation. Connecting columns can contain one of the following symbols:

Horizontal bar
Shows that the values in the columns on either side of this bar are connected together. The bar may connect a resource to a blank space and vertical bar character, in which case it means that the resource is related to the first proper resource name encountered when moving up the table. For example, in Figure 16 on page 42 DEF3 is connected to a cell with a bar character. This means that DEF3 is connected to the first proper resource name encountered when moving up the table, which is GROUP1.
Expand or collapse icon
Shows a connection in the same way as a horizontal bar. However, these icons can also be used to expand and collapse parts of the map. If a resource has more than one lower level resource associated with it; for example, a resource group with more than one resource definition, the connection column to the left of this resource contains a collapse icon (assuming it is in an expanded state). This changes to an expand icon if you collapse the row.
Vertical bar
Indicates that a resource has a sibling and has more than one lower level association. A bar is displayed in each cell in the column until the sibling resource name is rendered.

Some columns on a map, such as those displaying CSYSDEF and CSYSGRP resources, contain more than one resource type in the column. In such cases there is an additional column added to the right containing the resource type of these resources. For example, CICS system definition for a CSYSDEF or System group definition for a CSYSGRP.

You can initiate a map right or map left operation for most resources displayed on a map screen by selecting the adjacent radio button. The exceptions to this are CICS system or CICS group names because performing a further map operation on these resources would not result in any additional useful data: a map right command would only redisplay the current data, while a map left command would produce a map with only the CICS system or CICS group name displayed.

Generating a map of CICSPlex SM definitions

You can generate a map of related resources from any WUI tabular or detailed definitional view that displays a map button on the button bar; this includes all IBM-supplied definitional views. You can also use the map function on WUI screens you design yourself. The WUI view editor gives you the option of including a map button on tabular or detailed views for definitional objects.

To generate a map for a resource, open an appropriate tabular view and do the following:

  1. Select a resource as your starting point. You can do this by:
  2. Select the functional area you are interested in.

    There are a number of resources from which it is possible to map more than one set of associated definitions. For example, with CSYSGRP and CSYSDEF resources, it is possible to map BAS, monitoring, RTA or WLM resources; with a PERIODEF resource it is possible to map monitoring or RTA. Other resources such as RESGROUP, WLMDEF or RTASPEC are restricted to a single set of associated definitions. If a choice exists for your selected resource, a drop-down list is displayed next to the Map button. Make a selection by opening the list and highlighting your choice.

  3. Click Map to generate a map of the selected resource.

    This opens a map screen displaying a representation of the selected resource and its related resources. If the selected resource is not already at the lowest level the displayed map shows all of the resources down-level from the selected resource. By default the map is normally in a fully expanded state. You can control this using the Expand all and Collapse all buttons at the top of the screen.

You can now go on to generate a map of any of the listed resources by selecting a resource as your starting point and clicking Map left or Map right.

If the map was launched from a tabular view with more than one check box selected, you can click Next to generate a map of the next resource from your selection.

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