Starting CICS Explorer for the first time

When you start CICS Explorer® for the first time, it shows a Welcome view and uses a default location for the workspace that is used to save its data and configuration files. You can use the icons and links on the Welcome view to access information about getting started. You can use a different location for the local workspace.

On an OS X operating system, to start CICS Explorer for the first time, press ctrl+click on the CICS Explorer icon, click Open on the menu, then follow the prompts to confirm that you want to run this application on your system.

CICS Explorer uses a local workspace to save its data and configuration files. When CICS Explorer starts up for the first time, it uses the default workspace location. The default workspace name is .cicsexplorer. The location for the workspace depends on your operating system and is shown in the CICS Explorer title bar. You can use the Switch Workspace option to use an existing workspace or create a new workspace in a different location. See Switching workspaces.

When CICS Explorer starts, it shows the Welcome view and the Overview pane.

CICS Explorer welcome view.

The Welcome view includes icons that link to CICS Explorer panes with links to information about getting started. Click an icon to display the corresponding pane, and click a link to go to the corresponding information. The Welcome view closes but you can reopen it at any time by clicking Help > Welcome from the main menu for the workbench.

The following icons are provided:
  • Overview icon The Overview icon displays the Overview pane, which shows links to help topics that provide an overview of CICS® Explorer.
  • Tutorials icon The Tutorials icon displays the Tutorials pane, which shows links to tutorials and cheat sheets to help you get started using CICS Explorer.
  • First Steps icon The First Steps icon displays the First Steps pane, which shows links to help you get started using CICS Explorer.