CONNX for IBM® VSAM™
Unlock enterprise data wherever it resides
Support for VSAM/CICS® z/OS®
Support for VSAM in CICS® on z/OS
CONNX for VSAM offers real-time access to VSAM files in CICS on z/OS mainframe servers running TCP/ IP. It runs as a CICS transaction, ensuring interoperability with existing CICS applications and is able to import metadata directly from COBOL FD copybooks, which describe the VSAM file layouts.
z/OS started task support for VSAM, QSAM and PDS files
The started task/batch job version of CONNX for VSAM/QSAM/PDS provides read/write access to VSAM files and read-only access to QSAM and PDS files. In conjunction with CONNX for VSAM in CICS, this version provides real-time access to VSAM files during CICS region downtime periods. CONNX for VSAM on z/OS provides read/write access to Keyed Sequential Data Sets (KSDS), Relative Record Data Sets (RRDS) and Entry Sequenced Data Sets (ESDS).
Join VSAM with multiple data sources
When using in conjunction with other products in the CONNX suite, you can perform seamless joins between two or more supported disparate databases using ODBC, OLE DB, JDBC and .NET. CONNX for VSAM access is fast and efficient. With CONNX, a single metadata model can be created that spans all enterprise data sources and applications requiring data access. The result is an enterprise-wide view of data that provides a reusable standards-based framework for information access. To the user or application, data appears as if it existed in a single federated relational database.
SQL and CONNX for VSAM
The CONNX distributed SQL engine reduces the workload placed on the mainframe by performing CPU-intensive operations where the CONNX client resides (Linux® or Windows®, remote desktop, web and/or application server), while allowing the database engine to perform tasks for which it is best suited. CONNX supports: ANSI SQL (insert, update, select and delete); grouping by distinct, aggregate (AVG, MIN, MAX, SUM, and COUNT); and all substring, string, date, conversion and math functions. Nested inner and outer left/right joins are supported, as well as subqueries and correlated subqueries. CONNX also supports unions and insert/select.
Key features
Views
CONNX supports the creation of views, which facilitate hiding table relationships from the end user. CONNX Views facilitate the creation of heterogeneous joins between multiple disparate databases.
Data conversions
CONNX supports more than 600 data types and performs bi-directional data conversions for data updates and retrieves.
Security preserved and extended
The CONNX Data Dictionary (CDD) is encrypted to secure sensitive information. It provides additional field and table-level security by group or user, ensuring the security of sensitive information. CONNX also supports row-level security with CONNX Views.
Occur clauses
The CONNX unique Rotated Array Technology makes manipulation of large arrays simple. CONNX accomplishes this by returning each column of the array as a separate row.
Metadata import
CONNX for VSAM imports VSAM metadata directly from COBOL copybooks and a CONNX Text Specification file format into a CONNX Data Dictionary file.
Table redefinition
The CONNX Data Dictionary supports multiple record layouts of the same VSAM file based on a “record type” field.
