Workflows4z is a VS Code extension that lets you create and validate the z/OSMF workflow definition and the action definition files. With the extension, you can generate variable input file based on the variables that are defined in the workflow definition file. With workflow definition file opened in the extension, you can create and start the workflow for a specified z/OS system.
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JAVA Development Kit 8 or later be installed on the machine.
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Set up JAVA_HOME path:
- Go to Windows -> Edit the System Environment Variables.
- Click Environment Variables at the bottom.
- Add a new System Variable with Variable name JAVA_HOME and Value absolute path to the JAVA Development Kit.
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Download workflow task schema and Action file task schema to run the validation commands with the following options:
- Manual download:
- Go to File -> Preferences -> Settings.
- Select Extensions and then Workflows4z.
- Paste the absolute path of the Workflows task schema.
- To download a valid Workflows task schema, see IBM document The workflow task schema or contact your system programmer.
- The Action file task schema is supplied with z/OSMF in the following location: /usr/lpp/zosmf/workflow/schemas/actions_v1.xsd. Download it from there or contact your system programmer.
- Automated download with Workflows4z:
Run the command
Download validation schemas
download the workflow task schema and action file task schema. To run this command you require Zowe CLI default z/OSMF profile.
- Manual download:
-
Zowe CLI (to properly install zowe cli, in command line type:
npm install -g @zowe/cli
) -
Zowe CLI default zosmf profile to create and start the z/OSMF workflow and list the workflow steps.
- check https://github.com/zowe/zowe-cli
- create profile with user credentials (run command:
zowe profiles create zosmf-profile --help
) - before use of extension features,
first check in command line that zowe profile works corectly (either list workflows or run:zowe zosmf check status
)
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IntelliSense provides related options for every actions to create and edit the workflow. Type zosmf to invoke the context menu.
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Generates a variable input file in the editable format form the workflow definition file.
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Automatically validates workflow definition or action definition files on each save.
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Download the validation schemas.
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Create a z/OSMF Workflow on a s/OS system.
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Start the Workflow.
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List the Workflow steps.
Following are the commands that are available in the extension that help you create a workflow definition file and create a workflow on the z/OS system:
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Download validation schemas
Run the
Download validation schemas
command to download the valid Workflows task schema and the Action file task schema and update the extension configuration. -
Validate Workflow
Run the
Validate Workflow
command to validate z/OSMF Workflow against Workflows task schema. -
Validate Action definition file
Run the
Validate Action File
command to validate the action definition file against the action schema rules. -
Generate Variable input file
Run the
Generate Variable input file
command to generate a variable input file in the editable properties file format. -
Create a z/OSMF workflow on a z/OS system
Open the workflow definition file in the VS code to create a z/OSMF workflow and run the
Create a z/OSMF workflow on a z/OS system
command. Enter the workflow name, owner ID, and the z/OS system where you want to create a workflow. Note: To overwrite a workflow with the same name select True. -
Start an already created workflow in z/OSMF
Run the
Start an already created workflow in z/OSMF
command to execute the created workflow on the specified z/OS system. -
List workflow steps
Run the
List workflow steps
command to list the steps of the created workflow.
Action File Validation Schema
- To enable specify the absolute path to Action file task schema.Workflow Validation Schema
- To enable specify the absolute path to Workflow definition task schema.Auto Validation
- Enables and disables auto validation on each save of the workflow definition file and the action definition file.List Workflows
- Lists the workflows that are created with the User ID of the default Zowe z/OSMF profile. If you do not select the option List Workflows in settings, it shows all the workflows that are created on the z/OSMF system.
Watch the Workflows4z video to view the instructions on how to create a workflow definition file and variable input file in the extension.