Data sets table view

The Data sets table view in Zowe Explorer provides a powerful, spreadsheet-like interface for viewing and managing mainframe data sets and their members.

This feature is accessible through the Panel's Zowe Resources view and offers enhanced data visualization, filtering, and management capabilities beyond the traditional tree view.

Using the data sets table view

Open the table view from the Data Sets tree or from the Command Palette.

Opening from the Data Sets tree

Open the table view from a session or a partitioned data set (PDS):

1. In the Data Sets tree, right-click a session node or a PDS node.

2. Select View as Table from the context menu.

   • If you selected a session node that does not have a search filter applied, you are prompted to enter a data set search pattern.
   • If you selected a PDS node, the table displays all members of that PDS.

Opening from the Command Palette

Open the table view from the Command Palette:

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P/Cmd+Shift+P).

2. Enter and select Zowe Explorer: List Data Sets.

3. Select a profile from the dropdown list.

4. Enter a data set pattern (for example, USER.* or PUBLIC.DATA.*).

   The table view opens with the data sets that match your search pattern.

Table view layouts

The data sets table view has two layouts: one for displaying data sets and another for displaying PDS members.

Data sets layout

This layout displays data sets that match your search criteria. It includes the following columns:

• Data Set Name: The name of the data set.
• Data Set Organization: The type of data set (for example, PS for physical sequential, PO for partitioned organization).
• Creation Date: The date when the data set was created.
• Modified Date: The timestamp of the last modification.
• Record Length: The LRECL value.
• Migrated: Indicates whether the data set is migrated.
• Record Format: The RECFM value.
• Volumes: The storage volumes where the data set resides.
• Last Modified By: The user ID of the person who last modified the data set.

Members layout

This layout displays the members of a PDS. It includes member-specific columns in addition to some of the standard data set columns:

• Member Name: The name of the PDS member.
• Version: The member version number.
• Modification Level: The current modification level.
• Current Records: The number of current records in the member.
• Initial Records: The number of initial records in the member.
• Modified Records: The number of modified records in the member.
• SCLM: SCLM information, if applicable.

Managing data sets and members

The table view provides actions for managing your data sets and PDS members directly from the table.

Using the context menu

Right-click a row to open the context menu. It contains the following options:

• Display in Tree: Locates and highlights the selected item in the Data Sets tree view.
• Pin/Unpin: Pins or unpins the selected row. When pinned, the row remains visible at the top of the table view while scrolling to other rows.
• Copy cell & Copy row: Generic options for copying selected cell or row data.
• Additional actions provided by installed Zowe Explorer extensions.

Opening data sets and members

Open sequential data sets and PDS members in the editor:

1. Select one or more rows corresponding to sequential data sets or PDS members.

2. Click the Open button in the action bar at the top of the table.

   note

   This action is only available for sequential (PS) data sets and PDS members.

Pinning and unpinning rows

Pin important data sets or members to keep them visible at the top of the table regardless of sorting or filtering.

Pinning a row

1. Select one or more unpinned rows.

2. Click the Pin button in the action bar.

   The pinned rows are added to the top of the table.

Unpinning a row

1. Select one or more pinned rows.

2. Click the Unpin button.

   The rows return to their normal position in the table.

Navigating PDS members

You can "focus" on a PDS to view its members, and then navigate back to the list of data sets.

Focusing on a PDS

1. In the data sets layout, locate and select a PDS row (its Data Set Organization is PO).

2. Click the Focus button in the action bar.

   The table switches to the members layout and displays all members of the selected PDS.

Returning to the parent view

1. Navigate to the members layout.

2. Click the Back button in the action bar.

   The table returns to the previous data sets view and preserving its state (filters, sorting, and pinned rows).

Using tree mode (hierarchical view)

When viewing data sets, the table can display a hierarchy.

To see PDS members without leaving the data sets view:

1. Click the Expand/Collapse icon on a PDS entry to show or hide its members.
   • Members are loaded on demand when you expand a PDS for the first time.
2. Navigate the PDS member hierarchy directly within the table.

Advanced features

The table view includes advanced features for searching, sorting, and performing bulk operations.

Sorting options

The table view respects the sorting preferences set in the tree view for PDS members. The available sorting options include:

• Name: Sorts alphabetically by member name.
• Date Created: Sorts chronologically by creation date.
• Last Modified: Sorts by the modification timestamp.
• User ID: Sorts by the user who last modified the item.

Bulk operations

Perform actions on multiple items at once:

1. Select multiple rows using the checkboxes.
2. Choose an action from the action bar (for example, Open or Pin) to apply the operation to all selected items.

Keyboard shortcuts

• Ctrl/Cmd + Click: Multi-select rows.
• Shift + Click: Select a range of rows.