SimpList™ is a productivity tool
that vastly improves the traditional ISPF™ mainframe interface. Instead of
constantly moving between many different panels and vendor products, tasks are completed
in one location using simple point-and-shoot selection. Remembering and
re-keying object names is a thing of the past, and selecting objects and
executing commands is as easy as clicking a mouse.
As a mainframe application, the
look and feel of SimpList is immediately understood by ISPF users. At the same
time, the point-and-shoot workstation concepts used by SimpList are instantly
recognized by PC users. For example:
SimpList combines the power of the
mainframe with easy-to-use PC/workstation concepts to create an environment
where productivity is unsurpassed. By allowing each user to focus on what
they need to do rather than how they need to do it, projects are
completed far more quickly, using much less effort, and at greatly reduced
cost. The massive reduction in keystrokes, navigation time, and system interaction
time makes SimpList a must-have product for every mainframe site.
The feature-rich and highly
intuitive SimpList interface offers power and
functionality beyond anything found in other productivity tools. For example:
Ease of use.
Some productivity tools have no
user interface, and require learning cryptic commands to invoke customized
versions of regular ISPF panels. They also require prior knowledge and
understanding of ISPF menu structures (e.g. 3.3 = Copy). In contrast, SimpList
has an extremely intuitive point-and-shoot interface that requires no cryptic
commands to be learned and no previous knowledge of ISPF menus. All SimpList
panels have field-level-help and context sensitive tutorials, making them
extremely easy to learn and use with no formal training required.
No interference with regular ISPF.
Some productivity tools require
customizing a large number of ISPF panels, which means reapplying the
customization each time a new release of ISPF is installed. Other tools replace
regular ISPF panels and commands with their own completely different versions,
causing user confusion and making fall-back to regular ISPF options difficult
or impossible. In contrast, SimpList requires no customization to any existing
ISPF panels, and does not interfere with or change the use of regular ISPF in
any way. Instead, SimpList has its own unique set of stand-alone panels that
users can transition to as their time and schedules permit.
The most
powerful point-and-shoot facility.
A major feature of some
productivity tools is the ability to point-and-shoot at values on a panel; e.g.
to browse or edit data sets by pointing the cursor at a data set name. For
SimpList, point-and-shoot selection is just one of many hundreds of features.
Nevertheless, SimpList is the only product on the market that can do all
of the following:
1. Supports
point-and-shoot selection of data set names shown anywhere on a panel,
including those in ISPF messages.
2. Supports point-and-shoot
selection of newly entered names; i.e. names that don’t exist in the ISPF
screen buffer.
3. Supports
point-and-shoot selection of members whose names appear in other members; e.g.
programs and copybooks called by other programs (etc). This works even if the
calling and called members exist in different libraries.
4. Supports both nested
and newly started sessions. For example, entering ED and pointing the
cursor at an object name edits the object in a nested session (i.e. one that
runs on top of the current session), while EDS edits the object in a
newly started session (i.e. one that supports swapping between the original and
newly started session).
The most
powerful labeling facility.
Some productivity tools allow
objects to be given an ‘alias’. This allows objects to be opened using the
alias name instead of the object name. For example, ‘USER01.DEVELOP.CNTL’ could
be given an alias called DEVCNTL or JCL or just J (etc).
In SimpList terminology an alias
is called a ‘label’, while other tools might use ‘ID’ or ‘tag’ (etc).
Regardless of terminology, SimpList differentiates itself from other
productivity tools in several major ways:
1. Some productivity
tools do not support alias names, while others support only a very limited
number of alias names. SimpList imposes no limit whatsoever on the number of
alias names that can be assigned.
2. SimpList is the only
productivity tool that allows alias names to be assigned to any type of
object; e.g. data sets, BookManager bookshelves, DB2 tables, IMS databases,
PC/workstation files, VSAM files (etc).
3. SimpList is the only
productivity tool that allows labeled objects to include any combination of
wild cards and/or symbolics.
4. SimpList is the only
productivity tool that allows a list of labels to be browsed, edited, printed
or viewed from any command line, anywhere in ISPF. For example, a list of
labels can be opened in a standard ISPF edit session and labels can be added,
updated or deleted using regular ISPF edit commands.
Much more than just a data set
organizer.
Some productivity tools only
support data sets. In contrast, SimpList supports many additional
objects including BookManager Bookshelves and Books, DB2 tables, DB2 commands,
Generation Data Groups, IMS databases, IMS commands, ISPF commands,
PC/workstation files, PC/workstation commands, TSO commands, VSAM files, Web
sites, and much more. During every step of a process (e.g. when working in an
object list or DSLIST or advanced member list or extended edit and view sessions,
etc), SimpList adds many functions and enhancements that are not
available in regular ISPF or in any other productivity tool.
Permanently stores more than 2,500
object names, patterns, and commands.
Some productivity tools keep a brief
history of recently selected data sets. Once a data set rolls off the list, the
name is no longer available. In contrast, each SimpList user can permanently
store more than two and a half thousand object names. Each object (not just
data sets) can include system and user-defined symbolics. Optional comments can
be entered after any object to serve as a reminder of the contents. Wild cards
can be used in every type of object to generate unlimited lists of additional
objects. Different types of objects can be categorized and grouped in different
lists to make them easily accessible; e.g. JCL data sets could be grouped in
one list and DB2 tables grouped in another list (etc). Any list can be opened
from any ISPF command line. If the location of an object is forgotten, FIND can
be used to search every list for any part of an object name or comment. Labels
can be used to select objects from any ISPF command line.
Allows ‘surfing the mainframe’™.
SimpList heavily exploits the use
of point-and-shoot fields and host emulation software to allow each user to
'surf' through all SimpList panels using a mouse. For example, any object in
any list can be selected for any function without ever having to touch a
keyboard. Scrolling, executing commands, navigating tutorials (etc) can all be
accomplished by simply clicking a mouse.
Supports
cross-platform development.
SimpList has extensive
cross-platform support, allowing mainframe files to be viewed, edited, printed
(etc) on a PC/workstation, and PC/workstation files to be viewed, edited,
printed (etc) on a mainframe. If a selected file has a proprietary
PC/workstation format (such as a Word document or PDF file etc), the selected
file opens in the appropriate application on the PC/workstation.
If a PC/workstation file has a
wild card in the name, a list of all files matching the pattern is displayed on
the mainframe. From the list, files can be selected for many different
functions including transfer to or from a mainframe and PC/workstation.
In addition to files, many other
types of PC/workstation objects are supported. This includes PC/workstation
commands that are executed in a command window (e.g. IPCONFIG), commands that are executed at a Run prompt (e.g. WINVER),
applications that run on a PC/workstation (e.g. Notepad), web sites (e.g. HTTP
and HTTPS), and much more.
Low cost.
SimpList is licensed by CPU serial
number at a flat annual cost. There are no limits on the number of concurrent
users and no additional charges for installing on or upgrading to bigger/faster
mainframes. Because of the extremely low and attractive pricing, return on
investment usually occurs with a single user.
The SimpList workbench is a
fully-integrated environment where multiple objects can be selected for
multiple functions. For example, SimpList removes the need to navigate between all
of the following options:
In addition to the above, SimpList
interfaces with tools and utilities such as AMBLIST, BookManager, DB2,
DSNTIAUL, HSM, IMS, SuperC, the ISPF Workstation
Agent, and many different third-party vendor products; e.g. products that
handle DB2 tables, IMS databases, VSAM files, and more. For example, if a DB2
table is selected for edit, SimpList automatically launches whichever
third-party vendor product is used at the site for editing DB2 tables.
User Defined Functions further
extend the capabilities of SimpList, allowing it to seamlessly interface with
site-specific objects and products such as change management utilities and
in-house tools and procedures (etc).
By eliminating the need to
navigate between many different tools and utilities, SimpList creates an
enormously productive environment where tasks are completed far more quickly using
much less effort.
Asterisks and percent signs can be
used as wild cards in any type of object. When an object with one or more wild
cards is selected, a list of all matching objects is displayed. For example, if
C:\MYDIR\*.TXT is selected, a list of all matching files in the specified
directory is displayed on the mainframe. Files can be selected from the list
for functions such as browse, edit, print, transfer
(etc).
If a data set has wild cards in
the name, a DSLIST is automatically displayed. Users can chose between a
standard DSLIST (which is the same as a list generated by ISPF option 3.4), or
an enhanced DSLIST (which has additional commands and functions available). A
brief summary of some of the advantages offered by an enhanced DSLIST include:
§
Increased functionality: All regular DSLIST commands and
functions are available in an enhanced DSLIST, and additional commands and
functions are available. For example, if a data set is selected using function I
(Information), the attributes of the data set are displayed on a panel
where any attributes can optionally be changed by simply entering new
values; e.g. the block size, record length, data set organization,
primary/secondary allocation amount, SMS attributes, expiry date (etc).
§
A default function can be set or changed: In a regular
DSLIST, a function must be entered every time a data set is selected. In an
enhanced DSLIST, a default function can be set so that data sets can be
selected by simply pointing the cursor or clicking a mouse anywhere on a line. For
example, the default function could be set to ‘B’ (Browse) or ‘E’ (Edit) or ‘N’
(traNsfer), etc.
§
Display of commands and functions can be toggled on or
off: In an
enhanced DSLIST, a display of commonly used commands and functions can be
toggled on or off. When the display is toggled on, any command or function can
be selected by simply pointing the cursor or clicking a mouse. Help can be
obtained for any command by pointing the cursor at a command and pressing the
HELP key.
§
Displays an Advanced Member List: When a partitioned data set is
selected from an enhanced DSLIST, an Advanced Member List (AML) is presented.
The AML supports all regular member list commands and has many additional
commands and functions available. When a member is selected from an AML for
edit or view, extended edit and view commands are available. In other words,
additional power and functionality is provided at every step of a process.
The following table compares a few
of the major differences between SimpList and ISPF option 3.4. For example, ISPF
option 3.4 has a single object entry field where a data set name or pattern can
be entered. This means that each time a new data set name or pattern is
entered, the previous value is lost. In contrast, SimpList has over two and
half thousand object entry fields where names and patterns can be permanently
stored:
|
|
ISPF option 3.4 |
SimpList |
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Number of fields where objects
with wild cards can be entered |
1 |
2,574 |
|
Multiple object types supported
(not just data sets) |
No |
Yes |
|
Symbolics supported |
No |
Yes |
|
Default function supported |
No |
Yes |
Symbolics can be used anywhere in
any type of object. This is useful when dealing with objects whose names may
change based on different circumstances, such as a logon ID or SYSPLEX name (etc).
It can also be used when it’s desirable to be prompted for parts of an object
name that may vary, such as a DB2 table creator or GDG number or member name
(etc).
System symbolics are resolved
automatically; e.g. if ‘PROD.D&ZYEAR&ZMONTH&ZDAY..REPORT’ is
selected for any function, the date symbols are substituted with today’s date.
If a command like TSO PROFILE PREFIX(&ZUSER) is executed, the
default TSO prefix is set to the value of the &ZUSER system symbol, and so
on.
Symbolics can also be created
using any name that’s desired by a user. For example, if ‘USER01.COBOL(&MEM)’
is selected, a pop-up panel prompts for the value of &MEM. Using this
example, the value of &MEM could be entered as a member name, member
pattern, or left blank for a list of all members. The pop-up panel has a field
that determines whether the value for the symbol is used once, or for the
remainder of the SimpList session, or forever more. If ‘forever more’ is
selected, the user defined symbol is stored in a table that can be updated from
any command line, anywhere in ISPF.
A label is a short,
easy-to-remember alias that can be given to any type of object, including
commands and objects with wild cards and symbolics. The syntax for a label is
the same as the syntax for a member name, but is prefixed with a leading
period. For example, if ‘SOME.LONG.COBOL.LIBRARY.NAME’ is given a label called .COB,
the library could be browsed by entering BR .COB on any command line. If
a DB2 table called PROD.CUST_PURCHASE_ORDERS is given a label called .PO,
the table could be edited by entering ED .PO on any command line, and so
on.
If a label name is forgotten, the
entire list of labels can be displayed from any ISPF command line and any label
can be selected from the list. New labels can be added to the list, and
existing labels can be updated or deleted (etc). There is no limit to the
number of objects that can be given a label.
The following introduces some additional
features and concepts.
An ‘object’ is anything that can
be stored in a list, such as a data set name or VSAM file name (etc). SimpList
has built-in support for many different types of objects, including
user-defined objects.
SimpList displays a single
consistent type of member list called an AML (Advanced Member List). The AML
supports all regular member list commands, but has many additional commands and
functions available. The following is a brief sample of some of the extended
AML features:
Additional and enhanced commands
are available in edit and view sessions. This includes:
In addition to using
PC/workstation concepts, SimpList interacts with many different PC/workstation
objects. This includes:
As well as invoking SimpList from
a standard ISPF menu, an unlimited number of SimpList sessions can be launched
from any ISPF command line. For example, SL can be entered to launch a
nested SimpList session on top of the current session, or SLS can be
entered to launch a newly Started session (i.e. similar to a new split screen
session). This means the power and functionality of SimpList is always
available, no matter what option a user might be in.
SimpList has a point-and-shoot
interface that allows the cursor to be pointed at data set or member names
appearing anywhere on any ISPF panel. For example, a data set whose name is
displayed in an ISPF message could be opened for view by simply entering VI
on the command line and pointing the cursor at the data set name. When the view
session ends, control returns to the original session. Alternatively, the data
set could be viewed in a newly started session by entering
Other available commands include BR
(Browse nested), BRS (Browse Started), ED (Edit nested), and EDS
(Edit Started). All of these commands can be followed by an object name, object
pattern, or label. For example, a DB2 table could be edited by simply entering
ED followed by a DB2 table name or label. The same commands can also be used to
select members whose names appear in other members. For example, if a program
calls another program, the called program can be edited by entering ED
on the command line and pointing the cursor at the called program name. If a
program uses a copybook, the copybook could be viewed in a newly started
session by entering
In summary, every type of object,
function, and vendor product supported by SimpList is completely accessible
from every command line, everywhere in ISPF.
Some
benefits are easy to quantify while others are more difficult. Examples of
benefits that occur from installing SimpList that are difficult to quantify
include things like enhanced morale, the ability to retain employees and
attract new ones by offering a better working environment, and the ability to retain
customers and attract new ones by getting products to market faster. Each of
these benefits alone can pay for SimpList many times over. However, some of the
more quantifiable benefits are noted below:
Increased productivity:
With SimpList,
far less time is spent moving between options and typing in object names, and
much more time is spent doing actual productive work. Customer feedback shows
that SimpList saves about 4 hours per week per user, or roughly 5 weeks per
year. If the cost of hiring an employee is $1,000 a week, this means SimpList
saves approximately $5,000 per year per employee, or roughly half a million
dollars a year for every 100 employees.
Reduced training costs:
Very few of
today’s IT graduates have any mainframe training. Whether training is performed
by professionals or co-workers, the costs can be substantial. With SimpList,
the time required to teach employees how to use a mainframe is dramatically
reduced.
Fast set-up:
The built-in context-sensitive
tutorials and field-level-help allow each user to study SimpList by themselves,
with no formal training required. The object oriented, point-and-shoot concepts
are so intuitive that even new users are instantly productive. Users who are
new to an area can import object lists from other users, thereby instantly making
them aware of objects that are used within a project team. Comments can be
entered after any object name, allowing the contents and purpose of each object
to be readily understood. When certain types of objects are selected (e.g. DB2 tables
and VSAM files), a third-party vendor tool that supports that type of object is
automatically launched. This means users do not have to waste any time navigating
to third-party vendor products or learning where they’re kept.
Reduced hardware costs:
When a migrated
data set is selected it is usually recalled in foreground. This can tie up a
terminal and add overhead to a system. The user might decide to cancel the wait
for the recall, but the system still recalls it anyway. This means valuable
disk space is often wasted by recalling unwanted data sets. With SimpList, a
pop-up panel warns whenever a selected data set is migrated. The user can
recall the data set in foreground or background, or cancel the recall. This
prevents terminals being tied up in foreground, eliminates unnecessary recalls,
and helps conserve disk space.
When PDS members are saved, an
entirely new copy of each member is written to disk. This happens even if no
changes are made to a member. For example, if a member contains 1000 lines and
no changes are made but the member is saved, the amount of storage increases to
2000 lines. If another save is made, the amount of storage increases to 3000
lines, and so on. The only way to free the wasted space is to compress the data
set. Meanwhile, when wasted space is multiplied by many users across many
different data sets, storage capacity can rapidly diminish. With SimpList,
members are only saved if actual changes are made. This reduces I/O, prevents
data sets going into unnecessary extents, reduces the need to compress, reduces
the number of needless space abends, and conserves storage space.
Each time an interrupt key is
pressed (e.g. ENTER), the mainframe is called to process the request. While the
request is being processed, the user has to wait. The wait time, when
multiplied across many users throughout a day, can be substantial. In addition,
if enough interrupts are sent, mainframe response can significantly degrade.
Poor response increases the hidden cost of human wait time, and eventually
results in the need for faster hardware. SimpList helps to reduce these expenses
by requiring far fewer system interrupts to perform any given task. For
example, a user can simply click a DB2 table and the table opens directly in
the editor of a third-party vendor product. This single interrupt takes the
user directly where they need to be, instead of the many interrupts that would
normally be required to navigate through a series of menus and panels. As
another example, a user might enter ED .J on a command line to edit an object associated
with the ‘.J’ label. Again, this single interrupt takes the user directly where
they need to be. This minimization of interrupts allows mainframe resources to
be used for other more important tasks.
Reduced printing costs:
SimpList has a
print facility that allows an optional line and/or column range to be entered.
Instead of printing an entire file, users can print just the actual range of
lines or columns they’re interested in.
Fast return on investment:
Unlike many tools
that target a specific audience (e.g. programmers) or a specific phase of a
project (e.g. testing), SimpList is used throughout the day by everyone who
uses ISPF. This includes analysts, developers, systems programmers, DBA’s, help desk, end-users, and so on. This results in a very
early and substantial return on investment. In addition, because SimpList is
licensed at a single flat cost regardless of mainframe size or speed, the
return on investment usually occurs with a single user.
SimpList is compatible with
OS/390™ 2.10 and above, including all versions of z/OS™. No changes are
required to SimpList when upgrading from one level of an operating system to
another. SimpList does not interfere with the operation of regular ISPF in any
way, and does not require customization to any IBM supplied panels or
utilities.
SimpList is easily installed in a
matter of minutes, and requires no special installation skills or privileges.
The installation instructions explain how to upload 5 XMI (Transmit) files to a
mainframe, and RECEIVE them into 5 partitioned data sets. Once the data sets
are attached to their respective DD names, SimpList is available. Nothing needs
to be compiled or linked, no programs need to be authorized, no customization
is required to any ISPF panels, and no installation settings need to be
changed. SimpList does not override any existing tools or options, and all
regular ISPF panels remain fully accessible at all times.
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MacKinney Systems |
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Don’t delay; it’s time to
experience just how productive the mainframe can be!
ISPF and other trademarks of IBM acknowledged.
Windows and other trademarks of Microsoft Corporation acknowledged.