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Version: v2.18.x LTS

Using Zowe Explorer

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Using Zowe Explorer

Review this section to familiarize yourself with Zowe Explorer and make the best use of its available options and features.

Supported operating systems, environments, and platforms​

Operating systems​

  • MacOS 10.15 (Catalina), 11 (Big Sur), 12 (Monterey)
  • Unix-like:
  • Windows 10+

Integrated development environments:​

note

Zowe Explorer is compatible with Theia 1.18.0 or higher. However, we recommend using a Theia community release as Zowe Explorer could experience possible unexpected behaviors with the latest Theia releases.

Using Zowe Explorer in remote environments​

As of Zowe Version 2.11, Zowe Explorer and the Zowe Explorer API no longer use node-keytar, which was used to manage mainframe credentials. This change might cause some users issues when trying to interact with remote environments.

See Usage in Remote Environments to learn more about how to resolve credential errors.

Using a specific version of Zowe Explorer​

Depending on their circumstances, developers might want to keep using a specific version of Zowe Explorer. To ensure that a particular version remains installed on VS Code, refer to the procedure for one of the following scenarios:

Zowe Explorer is installed​

Preventing automatic version updates​

By default, VS Code automatically updates extensions as new versions are released. Refer to the following steps to prevent automatic updates:

  1. On the VS Code menu bar, click File, Preferences, and click Settings to display the Settings editor.

  2. Select the User or Workspace tab, depending on which settings you want to update.

  3. In the Settings navigation menu, click Features and click Extensions.

  4. In the Auto Update dropdown menu, select None. This prevents VS Code from updating your extensions automatically.

Installing a specific previous version​

  1. Select the Extensions tab on the Activities Bar to display a list of installed extensions.

  2. In the Side Bar, click the Gear icon next to Zowe Explorer to open a dropdown menu that lists available options.

  3. Select Install Another Version… to open a dropdown menu that lists previous versions of Zowe Explorer.

  4. Click the version of Zowe Explorer you want to install.

Zowe Explorer is not installed​

If Zowe Explorer is not installed, you can install the current release of the extension and then revert to a previous version.

Installing a previous version of Zowe Explorer​

  1. Select the Extensions tab on the Activities Bar to display the Search Extensions in Marketplace field.

  2. In the Side Bar, search for Zowe Explorer. Click the Install button on the Zowe Explorer search result item. This opens a Zowe Explorer tab in the Editor area.

    Zowe Explorer search result item



  1. Click the Down arrow next to the Uninstall button. Select Install Another Version… to open a dropdown menu that lists previous versions of Zowe Explorer.
  2. Search for and click the version of Zowe Explorer you want to install.

Credentials in Zowe Explorer​

When working in remote or virtualized environments — such as Eclipse Che, GitHub Codespaces, CodeReady Workspaces — administrators may find the configuration process for storing credentials securely too cumbersome. Instead, they may prefer to rely on the security tools integrated with these environments, such as file access permissions. To do so, administrators need to disable Zowe Explorer's credential management functionality.

Preventing Zowe Explorer from storing credentials​

  1. Open the zowe.config.json file in Visual Studio Code.

  2. Find the autoStore property.

  3. Set the autoStore property to false.

    Credentials will be stored on a per profile/per panel basis until one of the following takes place:

    • Data Sets/USS/Jobs tree refresh caused by an update to the zowe.config.json file
    • Zowe Explorer refresh in the Command Palette
    • Reload of the Visual Studio Code window
    • Closing and reopening the VS Code window

Disabling Secure Credential Storage of credentials​

Zowe Explorer v2​

  1. Navigate to Settings in VS Code.

  2. In Zowe Explorer Settings, uncheck the Zowe Security: Secure Credentials Enabled checkbox.

    When disabled and autoStore is set to True in zowe.config.json, z/OS credentials are stored as plain text in the configuration file.

Zowe Explorer v1​

  1. Navigate to Settings in VS Code.

  2. In Zowe Explorer Settings, leave the Zowe Security: Credential Key field blank.

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