IMAGE Focus Release 3 is now generally available (GA). In Release 2 of IMAGE Focus users benefited from a significant increase in the number and scope of MVS Image Inspections and enhanced reporting/notification. In Release 3,  the addition of Image Configuration files (shared with SAE) and Image Comparisons Functions has resulted in the industries first IMAGE Change and Configuration Management Software Product for OS/390 and the newly announced z/OS. Those planning to migrate from OS/390 R6-R9 to OS/390 R10 and then to z/OS or directly to z/OS will benefit using IMAGE Focus, achieving increased productivity and better control over critical system resources during the migration process.

Specific enhancements include:

1. Image Packages (Image Configuration Files)

   Image Focus 3.0 has been enhanced to collect the contents of each member as it is processed during an Image Inspection. The result of this collection process is called a "Packages". These Packages are automatically cataloged and stored for future use.

2. Package Applications

   • Image Browse
     
     The member data that is stored in a package can be viewed using the browse option of the stored package operations panel. The Index PDS members are displayed and the user may select the desired image to browse. After selecting the image a list of the available packages is displayed. When a package is selected the browse function will extract the member information from the stored package and display each member name in the package along with the dataset name and volume serial that the original member came from. Selecting a member will result in an ISPF browse of the member data.
     

   • Image Comparison
     
     There are two types of Image Comparison:
     
     1. Package Compare - 

   This function compares the contents of two stored packages from an Image PDS. 

   2. Inspection Compare - 

   This function compares a current image with a stored package.

3. OS/390 Release Identification

   Image Focus 3.0 Reports now include the operating system release level information for the image being inspected. An example of the information on the report is displayed below:
   
   NSS729I DETERMINING MVS LEVEL.
   NSS731I MVS SOFTWARE LEVEL IS:
   NSS732I SP6.0.6 HBB6606 IBM CORP OS/390
   
   This information may be used by Image Focus 3.0 to control the inspection process. For example, OS/390 V2R10 supports up to 16 datasets in the PARMLIB concatenation, while earlier releases support only 11.

4. 3270 Attention Exits

   This support was designed to allow automatic SDSF screen updates to be interrupted.  Prior to Image Focus 3.0 there was no method of stopping the automatic update.

5. "PROFILE" EXEC 

   The ICMD parameter defines the command to be placed on the Image Focus LOGON Panel.  The default for this parameter is "ISPF". In Image Focus 3.0 the size of this field has been expanded from eight to twenty-four bytes.  Now a command string can be used to run a CLIST or REXX program prior to running ISPF.  The TSO EXEC command must be used to call a command list.

IMAGE Focus users who would like to participate in the BETA Test Program for IMAGE Focus 3.5 may do so by contacting NewEra Technical Support by email at this address support@newera.com.

NewEra Technical Support