IBM z/OS Management Facility (z/OSMF)

IBM z/OSMF

IBM z/OSMF

The IBM z/OS Management Facility framework improves programmer productivity by using simplified, streamlined and automated tasks. This easier-to-use functionality reduces both programmer training time and the learning curve.

 View Only
Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

z/OSMF Guild Session 2 (Workflows) Question and Answer

  • 1.  z/OSMF Guild Session 2 (Workflows) Question and Answer

    Posted 12/10/21 01:07 PM
    Edited by Rolando Perez 12/14/21 02:50 PM
    These are questions and answers captured from the Webex chat during the z/OSMF Guild Session 2 on December 9, 2021.  Questions were answered by Li Qi, Xiao Zhen (Joey) Zhu, Hiren Shah, Travis Biro & Rolando Perez.  If you have further questions, you can respond to this forum or contact any of us directly.  

    1. Where can I find the materials & links that were shared during Guild Session 2?

    2. Can I share the materials or links that were presented?
    Yes, everything shared during the guild sessions is publicly available 

    3. What is the z/OSMF service level for the availability of these workflow functions?
    Most of the workflow functions in the presentation have been available since z/OS 2.3. Newer functions like saving job output and remote workflows were added  during May 2020. You can find the detailed information about recently released z/OSMF functions in the News section of z/OSMF One Stop Hub: https://ibm.github.io/zOSMF/

    4. Can we disable the "create JOB statement" step when performing a workflow? The JCL that we are pulling in from the datasets already has a job statement. Therefore, duplicate job statements are not necessary.
    This is a valid requirement. There is a similar RFE , please vote to raise the priority. Thanks!

    5. For the workflows we built, we also drew them as a flow diagram in visio using arrows/connectors to describe step dependencies. This was helpful in introducing a new user to the workflow. Is there any thought do doing this automatically in z/OSMF, similar to the export function but in graphical form? This is a good requirement. Do you think it's valuable if we support exporting the workflow as a standard data format, for example JSON, then you can import it to 3rd party tools to draw a flow diagram and show the step dependencies? It's appreciated if you can open a RFE to IBM. Thanks.

    6. Is there a way to disable the "Automation confirmation/override" prompt? (when a step is set to auto)
    There is no way to disable the "Perform Automated Step" panel when you perform a step which is set to auto today. But this is a good requirement to provide more flexible workflow perform experience. It's appreciated if you can open a RFE to IBM. Thanks.

    7. Is there a way to predefine assignees in a Workflow before the Workflow instance is created?
    There is no way to predefine assignees in workflow definition file. You can assign all the steps to the workflow owner when you create a workflow instance. Or manually assign the steps after the workflow instance is created. If you have a business need to predefine it, please kindly open a RFE to us. 

    8. What determines the weight when defining a step?
    The weight is flexible and can be determined by the factors that workflow owner chooses. When the workflow instance is created, the workflow instance panel displays the progress based on weight as well as progress based number of steps have been completed. 

    9. I am assuming there is no harm leaving Variable Enabled on a step where there is no variable substitution from my experiences.
    It should not impact the workflow behavior negatively. But you may be prompted to input value for the variable when you perform the step in workflow UI.

    10. Can someone speak to the notification of when a user or group of users step enters "Ready" state? Is there a way to generate an event to send an e-mail to the associated user or some mechanic for them to know besides logging into z/OSMF and checking their notifications?
    Yes, workflow is able to send z/OSMF Notifications for certain events such as when a step is assigned. Users can configure Notification settings about whether to use email or not to receive notification. 

    11. I    s an example of a workflow downloading a PTF from IBMLink and applying it to our SMPE environment using z/OSMF Desktop?
    There is not an existing workflow to do this, but someone could certainly create a workflow definition to download a PTF from IBMLink and also APPLY the PTF.

    12. Are you able to create more than one called workflow at a time from one calling step inside a workflow?
    Only one called workflow is allowed for one calling step.

    13. Will all the steps run if all are selected together? or steps have to be run individually as shown in demo?
    We support parallel JCL steps, which can be enabled via the Workflow Editor.  If you select Auto Enabled in each step in the Workflow Editor and then click Perform in the Workflow Instance, the steps should run automatically sequentially.  If the workflow steps are JCL type of steps, you can also create them as parallel steps so that they can run in parallel. 

    14. Where in the z/OSMF filesystem is the output from a workflow job saved?
    The path of job outputs can be specified when you create workflow definition, create workflow instance or modify workflow instance. By default, it's saved in z/OSMF data file system which is mounted at /global/zosmf/data/ by default.

    15. Can we disable the "create JOB statement" step when performing a workflow? The JCL that we are pulling in from the datasets already has a job statement. Therefore, duplicate job statements are not necessary. 
    Currently no but this is a good requirement, please open an RFE.

    16. Can one Workflow step create/modify a variable that can be used in next workflow step?
    The output properties file can help you to override value of variables. 


    ------------------------------
    Rolando Perez
    ------------------------------


Related Content