New release adds message set wizard, XML support, and more

Here’s an overview of some of the great new features you can look forward to when you upgrade to Robot/CONSOLE 5.0.

Robot/CONSOLE Explorer
Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 features a totally new graphical user interface (GUI), the Robot/CONSOLE Explorer. In the past, the graphical portion of Robot/CONSOLE gave you access only to message centers. Now, the Explorer gives you full access to all Robot/CONSOLE functions. From the Explorer tool bar, you can view message history, export and import messages sets using XML, view resource status history, check active jobs or spooled files on the system, and even create new message sets using the Message Set Creation Wizard. When you “float” your cursor over the icons on the tool bar, you see information about the options available to you.

Use expressions or view names for default values

When you create a SEQUEL view, you can use expressions or view names as default values for run-time prompts. By doing this, you can make it easier for end users to run requests for commonly selected variables.

Using an expression to create a default
For example, suppose you want to specify a date range for a SEQUEL view or report that automatically includes the last year of activity. You can use an expression in the default value to calculate the year-ago date as the starting value. Look at following view created using the CUSTMAST file in the SEQUELEX library:

For V6R1 and Robot/SAVE, is there anything special I need to be aware of?
Yes. In V6R1, IBM changed the default behavior of the Power Down System (PWRDWNSYS) command. The default value (*ENVVAR) for the CONFIRM parameter on the PWRDWNSYS command now displays a confirmation window. This will cause the Robot/SAVE Restricted State Utility (RSU) to halt and wait for a confirmation before performing the IPL. Enter the following command on a command line to permanently bypass the confirmation window on the PWRDWNSYS command:

ADDENVVAR ENVVAR(QIBM_PWRDWNSYS_CONFIRM) VALUE(*NO) LEVEL(*SYS)

Robot/SCHEDULE 10 includes a new feature called the Schedule Activity Monitor (SAM) that provides a quick view of forecasted, active, and completed jobs. If you’re responsible for making sure that the schedule runs without a hitch, SAM may become your new best friend.

Using SAM
From a single screen, you can work with jobs that are forecast to run in the next 24 hours, jobs that currently are active or in a job queue, and jobs that have completed or failed.