Specifications

Chapter 4. z/VM notes 63
The output from filelist is in a full-panel format that can be scrolled with PF8 and PF7. PF3
is used to exit from the command. This format is very useful because CMS commands can be
entered in the first column of a line and the file named in that line becomes the operand of the
CMS command. Two common commands are browse and x (or xedit).
When a new CMS disk exists (perhaps with a new z/VM userid), it must be formatted for CMS
use. Assuming the new disk is my 191 disk (the default “A” disk for a CMS user). At my first
logon I could use this dialog:
ipl CMS (if not automatically IPLed at logon)
format 191 a
Format will erse all files on disk A (191). Do you wish to continue?
Enter 1 (YES) or 0 (NO).
1
Enter disk label:
Bill91 (the label is arbitrary; 6 characters)
FOrmatting disk A
10 cylinders formatted on A (191)
Another user’s minidisk
You might want to access another user’s minidisk, assuming it is not password protected. If
user JOE has minidisk 456 defined, you might do the following:
link joe 456 456 (link to joe’s 456 as my own 456)
acc 456 j (access it as my j disk)
filelist * * j (see what files are on the minidisk)
There are two minor problems with this method. What if I already have a minidisk defined at
address 456?
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What if I am already using file mode j? Another method is:
vmlink joe 456 (use the vmlink command instead)
DMSVML2060I JOE 456 linked as 0120 file mode z
Ready
filelist * * z
In this case z/VM selected an unused address (0120) and an unused file mode (z) for you.
When you are finished with JOE’s 456 minidisk you can:
rel z (free file mode z)
det 120 (detach the address, using the address I see)
4.4.2 XEDIT
XEDIT is the normal CMS editor. Most z/VM administration and customization is done by
editing CMS files. New z/VM users who are familiar with ISPF will find XEDIT easy to use
once a few differences are mastered. You can create new CMS files with XEDIT simply by
naming it. For example, x newfile stuff a will create a new file named newfile stuff and
place it on your “a” disk (assuming you save the file before exiting from XEDIT).
Important XEDIT commands (on the command line) are:
file - Save the current file
qquit - Exit without saving the current file
/xxx/ - locate the next line containing characters xxx
+nn - Scroll forward nn lines
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You could use a different address, such as LINK JOE 456 789, but you then need to determine whether you already
have a 789 disk. This is a trivial problem for most users, who have very few minidisks defined, but it could be a
significant problem for a complex user.