Work with IBM MQ objects on z/OS

Many of the tasks described in this documentation involve manipulating IBM MQ objects. The object types are queue managers, queues, process definitions, namelists, channels, client connection channels, listeners, services, and authentication information objects.

Defining simple queue objects

To define a new object, use an existing definition as the basis for it. We can do this in one of three ways:

By selecting an object that is a member of a list displayed as a result of options selected on the initial panel. You then enter action type 2 ( Define like ) in the action field next to the selected object. Your new object has the attributes of the selected object, except the disposition. We can then change any attributes in your new object as you require.
On the initial panel, select the Define like action type, enter the type of object that we are defining in the Object type field, and enter the name of a specific existing object in the Name field. Your new object has the same attributes as the object you named in the Name field, except the disposition. We can then change any attributes in your new object definition as you require.
By selecting the Define like action type, specifying an object type and then leaving the Name field blank. We can then define your new object and it has the default attributes defined for the installation. We can then change any attributes in your new object definition as you require.

Note: You do not enter the name of the object we are defining on the initial panel, but on the Define panel we are presented with.

The following example demonstrates how to define a local queue using an existing queue as a template.

Defining a local queue

To define a local queue object from the operations and control panels, use an existing queue definition as the basis for the new definition. There are several panels to complete. When you have completed all the panels and we are satisfied that the attributes are correct, press Enter to send your definition to the queue manager, which then creates the actual queue.

Use the Define like action either on the initial panel or against an object entry in a list displayed as a result of options selected on the initial panel.

For example, starting from the initial panel, complete these fields:

Action	2 (Define like)
Object type	QLOCAL
Name	QUEUE.YOU.LIKE. This is the name of the queue that provides the attributes for the new queue.

Press Enter to display the Define a Local Queue panel. The queue name field is blank so that we can supply the name for the new queue. The description is that of the queue upon which you are basing this new definition. Over type this field with your own description for the new queue.

The values in the other fields are those of the queue upon which we are basing this new queue, except the disposition. We can over type these fields as you require. For example, type Y in the Put enabled field (if it is not already Y) if suitably authorized applications can put messages on this queue.

You get field help by moving the cursor into a field and pressing function key F1. Field help provides information about the values that can be used for each attribute.

When you have completed the first panel, press function key F8 to display the second panel.

Hints:

Do not press Enter at this stage, otherwise the queue will be created before you have a chance to complete the remaining fields. (If you do press Enter prematurely, do not worry; we can always alter your definition later on.)
Do not press function keys F3 or F12, or the data you typed will be lost.

Press function key F8 repeatedly to see and complete the remaining panels, including the trigger definition, event control, and backout reporting panels.

When your local queue definition is complete

When your definition is complete, press Enter to send the information to the queue manager for processing. The queue manager creates the queue according to the definition you have supplied. If we do not want the queue to be created, press function key F3 to exit and cancel the definition.

Defining other types of objects

To define other types of object, use an existing definition as the base for the new definition as explained in Defining a local queue.

Use the Define like action either on the initial panel or against an object entry in a list displayed as a result of options selected on the initial panel.

For example, starting from the initial panel, complete these fields:

Action	2 (Define like)
Object type	QALIAS, NAMELIST, PROCESS, CHANNEL, and other resource objects.
Name	Leave blank or enter the name of an existing object of the same type.

Press Enter to display the corresponding DEFINE panels. Complete the fields as required and then press Enter again to send the information to the queue manager.

Like defining a local queue, defining another type of object generally requires several panels to be completed. Defining a namelist requires some additional work, as described in Work with namelists.

Work with object definitions

When an object has been defined, we can specify an action in the Action field, to alter, display, or manage it.

In each case, we can either:

Select the object we want to work with from a list displayed as a result of options selected on the initial panel. For example, having entered 1 in the Action field to display objects, Queue in the Object type field, and ^* in the Name field, we are presented with a list of all queues defined in the system. We can then select from this list the queue with which we need to work.
Start from the initial panel, where you specify the object we are working with by completing the Object type and Name fields.

Altering an object definition: To alter an object definition, specify action 3 and press Enter to see the ALTER panels. These panels are very similar to the DEFINE panels. We can alter the values we want. When your changes are complete, press Enter to send the information to the queue manager.
Display an object definition: To see the details of an object without being able to change them, specify action 1 and press Enter to see the DISPLAY panels. Again, these panels are similar to the DEFINE panels except that we cannot change any of the fields. Change the object name to display details of another object.
Delete an object: To delete an object, specify action 4 (Manage) and the Delete action is one of the actions presented on the resulting menu. Select the Delete action.
You are asked to confirm your request. If you press function key F3 or F12, the request is canceled. If you press Enter, the request is confirmed and passed to the queue manager. The object you specified is then deleted.
Note: We cannot delete most types of channel object unless the channel initiator is started.

Work with namelists

When working with namelists, proceed as you would for other objects.

For the actions DEFINE LIKE or ALTER, press function key F11 to add names to the list or to change the names in the list. This involves working with the ISPF editor and all the normal ISPF edit commands are available. Enter each name in the namelist on a separate line.

When we use the ISPF editor in this way, the function key settings are the normal ISPF settings, and not those used by the other operations and control panels.

For to specify lowercase names in the list, specify CAPS(OFF) on the editor panel command line. When you do this, all the namelists that you edit in the future are in lowercase until you specify CAPS(ON).

When you have finished editing the namelist, press function key F3 to end the ISPF edit session. Then press Enter to send the changes to the queue manager.

Attention: If we do not press Enter at this stage but press function key F3 instead, you lose any updates that we have typed in. Parent topic: Operate IBM MQ for z/OS