Migration from previous versions

The CICS® IA plug-in Version 3.2 can connect to an IA Version 3.1 database, but some features are not supported. Queries can be migrated from Version 3.1 to Version 3.2, and from Version 2.2 to Version 3.1

Compatibility between Version 3.2 and 3.1

The CICS IA plug-in Version 3.2 can connect to an IA Version 3.1 database. When connected to an IA Version 3.1 database, certain features that are available with an IA Version 3.2 database are not supported:

  • The Collection ID view does not display a list of available collection IDs; it displays the following message: You must be using a CICS IA 3.2 database to run this view.

    The filter box in the view is disabled and the Collection ID field on the toolbar is cleared.

  • Scanner Queries are not supported and do not run. If you attempt to run a Scanner Query that was created in the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.2, the following warning is displayed: CICS IA 3.2 database is required to run this query. Reason: scanner queries are not supported in CICS IA 3.1 database.
  • For a command flow query, the Trace ID, User data field 1, User data field 2, and User data field 3 fields are not supported. These fields are also not supported if you right-click a Task ID in the User Command view, then click Show Execution to display information in the Command Flow view. If you attempt to run a Command Flow query that was created in the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.2, the following warning is displayed: CICS IA 3.2 database required to run this query. Reason: the following fields are not supported in CICS 3.1 database: Trace ID, User data field 1.

Running multiple versions of the CICS IA plug-in

If you want to use multiple versions of the CICS IA database, you must have the appropriate version of the CICS IA plug-in installed to separate installations of the CICS Explorer®. You cannot install multiple versions of the CICS IA plug-in to the same CICS Explorer.

Also, after you use the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.2 on a workspace that was previously used by a CICS IA plug-in Version 3.1, any queries are migrated to a new format, and are not available for subsequent use by a Version 3.1 plug-in on the same workspace.

Tip: To use Versions 3.1 and 3.2 of the CICS IA plug-in at the same time, use separate installations of CICS Explorer and also separate workspace locations. Start the CICS Explorer with the "-data C:/path/to/workspace" argument to launch with a specific workspace location.

If you have used the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.2 on a workspace that has migrated the queries to the new format, you can retrieve the Version 3.1 format query files from the "../Interdependency Analyzer Queries/backup/" directory in the workspace. You can copy these queries to another workspace to use with the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.1.

Migration of queries from Version 3.1 to 3.2

Queries created in the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.1 are automatically migrated to a new format when the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.2 is started. You do not need to take any action. The migrated queries are identical in behavior, and the folder hierarchy is preserved. A copy of the original queries are backed up in case of a migration error.

Migration of queries from Version 2.2 to 3.1

You can migrate queries from the CICS IA plug-in Version 2.2 to the CICS IA plug-in Version 3.1.

When you initially install the CICS IA plug-in, a queries folder is created in the workspace. This folder is located in C:\Documents and settings\username\.cicsexplorer\com.ibm.cics.ia.runtime. To run previously defined queries, you must copy these queries into the queries folder, or into a child folder under the queries folder. If you copy hidden folders from your workspace, the folders become visible in the CICS IA plug-in. You can copy individual queries or folders of queries. You must not rename query files.

The default Queries view displays the two folders, Supplied Samples and User Queries, which are initially created under the queries folder. All queries that you copy into these folders in your file system are displayed in the Queries windows, after you click the Refresh icon or restart the CICS IA plug-in.