TAAISTHERE -- Is there a Tool that does ...?

Is there a tool that does ...?
There are many TAA Tools for programmers, system managers, system operators, security officers, auditors, and a few end user tools. To determine whether there is a tool that will fit your requirements or to acquire education about the tools, you should be familiar with the following: The taatool.com web site Our web site at https://taatool.com contains all of the documentation for every tool as well as a complete tool index with short descriptions. When looking for a tool you may find it easiest to search the index. DSPTAACAT (Display TAA Categories) Command The Display TAA Categories command provides a quick reference to the TAA Tools by category such as spool, source, copy, etc. The category names begin with an * and follow the typical system naming conventions such as SRC, SPL, SAV. A typical request would be: DSPTAACAT CATEGORY(SRC) If you don't know the category, you can enter a word such as 'disk', 'system', 'backup', 'spool' or an abbreviation such as 'dsk', 'sys' or 'prin'. For example, you could enter: DSPTAACAT CATEGORY(dsk) This will provide a subfile of choices for that will assist you in identifying the proper category. Two special options exist for the CATEGORY keyword: - If you take the default of WORD, you will see a list of all the words that are supported that assist you in accessing a category. You may make a selection. - If you enter CATEG, you will see a subfile of all the categories and may make a selection. After you select a category, a subfile will be displayed of all the tools in that category. Some tools are described in multiple categories such as the ADDDAT tool which appears in both the ADD and DAT categories. Each tool is assigned a 'popularity level' of 1, 2, or 3 where 1 is the most popular. The 'popularity level' was chosen arbitrarily to help minimize what the typical user would want to see. By default, only the most popular tools (level 1) are shown when the display initially appears. The 'level counts' appear at the top of the display to describe additional tools (if any). The F11 key may be used to display additional levels. You can also set your own default with F21 to determine what levels you want to see by default. The 'Display TAA Categories' subfile provides several functions: - Options exist to let you display the documentation as either a single paragraph explanation (Display Heading option) or the full description of the tool (Display Tool option). You can also print the full documentation. When the full documentation is displayed, the F7 key may be pressed to see a summary of the number of members and source statements that make up the tool. - The '7' option allows you to access the commands supported by the tool. This is the DSPTOOLCMD tool (described in detail later) and provides a subfile of the commands associated with the tool. From this subfile, you can prompt for and run the command (some commands can only be used in CL programs). - The '9' option allows you to access WRKTAA for the tool. Using the F10 key from WRKTAA will allow you to see the source members that make up the tool and also to display or copy the source. - You can change to a different category by entering a different category at the top of the display (replacing the name of the category you are reviewing). - You can minimize the number of tools you need to review by entering additional categories at the top of the display. For example, if you are reviewing the DAT tools, you could also enter ADD and see only those tools that appear in both categories. - The F13 key (if it appears) means the tool has a related category. For example, the PRT category is related to SPL. If there is only a single related category, it is described and may be accessed immediately. If there are multiple related categories, a list of these is presented and you may make a selection. PRTTAACAT (Print TAA Categories) Command The Print TAA Categories command provides hard copy for the tools by category or all categories. For example, if you are the Security Officer, you might be interested in the tools that are in the security (SEC) category. A typical command would be: PRTTAACAT CATEGORY(SEC) This would produce spooled output with one line per tool. If you want a little more detail about the tools, you can print a one paragraph description of the tools by category by specifying: PRTTAACAT CATEGORY(SEC) PRTTYP(DETAIL) By default, the listing would include all 'levels' of tools. You can review the popular tools by specifying LVL(1). You can print all of the tools with or without the one paragraph description by specifying a category of ALL. PRTTAACAT is an option on the HELPTAA menu. Some tools appear in multiple categories. FNDCMD (Find Command) Command Another good tool to become familiar with is FNDCMD. When TAA is installed, the TAACMFBP file is built with one record for each command on the system. This includes TAA commands, QSYS commands, and your own commands. It excludes the previous release libraries and duplicates found in QSYS. You can do a quick review of all commands that match a string of characters. For example: FNDCMD JOBD will display all commands on the system that have the string JOBD. Another tool that uses TAACMFBP is the FNDCMDTXT tool which allows you to scan the text descriptions of the commands such as: FNDCMDTXT MAIL All commands with MAIL in the text description would be displayed. DSPTAACMD (Display TAA Command) Command The Display TAA Command provides a quick reference to the TAA Tool commands. While DSPTAACMD can be very helpful, keep in mind the following: - Not all tools have a command interface. Some tools are APIs (just programs). Some tools are documentation only, but contain source code ready to be copied. Some tools are documentation only. - Some tools have multiple commands. - Some tools have a single command that is not the name of the tool. DSPTAACMD displays a subfile based on your selection criteria. There are 3 different types of requests you can make: - If you know the command verb (e.g. RTV, CPY, PRT), enter the command as: DSPTAACMD CMD(RTV) - If you know the abbreviation that is used within the command name (e.g. SRC, SPL), enter the command as: DSPTAACMD CMD(SRC) SCAN(NAME) - If you know a word that you think will be in the command object text description (e.g. queue, spool), enter the command to scan the text description as: DSPTAACMD CMD(QUEUE) SCAN(*TEXT) When the subfile is displayed, you may use options to display or print the tool documentation, or prompt for the command. DSPTAACMD is an option on the HELPTAA menu. DSPTOOLCMD (Display Tool Command) If you know the tool name and want to see the commands associated with a tool, use DSPTOOLCMD such as: DSPTOOLCMD TOOL(SAVALLCHG) If you know a command name, you can find out the other command names that are part of the same tool by specifying the command name. DSPTOOLCMD TOOL(SAVALLSAVF) The SAVALLSAVF command is a part of the SAVALLCHG tool. The display would appear as if you had entered TOOL(SAVALLCHG). DSPTOOLCMD is an option on the HELPTAA menu and also on the DSPTAACAT display. Learning more about a tool Once you know the tool you want to use (or want more information on), you may be able to learn all you need to know by just prompting for the command. Most tools have a command interface that is the same name as the tool name. For example, EDTVAR is both the name of the tool and the command name for the 'Edit Variable' tool. The parameter descriptions may be adequate to describe what the command does. If not, all of the commands support help text which may provide you with enough information. Access the Help text for a command as you would any system command by using the Help key or F1. Depending on where the cursor is positioned, you will receive help text for a specific parameter or a command overview. The command overview also lets you see the help text for each parameter. Sometimes you will need to review the documentation for a tool before you can properly use it. For example: - A tool may have multiple commands and you may need to understand what each does before using any. - A tool may be an API (such as a program) where the parameter list needs to be understood. - A tool may require action on your part before using it such as entering data into a data area to describe your environment. To see the documentation for a tool, you can use an option from the DSPTAACAT or DSPTAACMD displays or use the DSPTAA command directly such as: DSPTAA EDTVAR Other functions TAASUMMARY The TAASUMMARY page on our web site describes all of the tools in alphabetical sequence with a one paragraph description per tool. This is over 150 pages of output. You can display or print the information. TAA Archive The documentation and source code for the tools originate as source members in a source file. To conserve space, the source and documentation are compressed and shipped in an archive. You can display or print any member of the archive with the DSPTAA command as described previously: DSPTAA EDTVAR If you know the source member that you want to display, you can use DSPTAA. The tool documentation describes the names of the source members that are used to execute the tool. For example, TAACLPC is the command definition source for the EDTVAR command. You can display it with: DSPTAA TAACLPC There are several commands that work with the TAA Archive and these commands are options from the WRKTAA subfile display. The following command will let you access the archive: WRKTAA From the Archive subfile display you can: - Position to a tool - Print or display the tool documentation - Copy out a tool (copy to a normal source member) - Display heading information about the tool including a one paragraph description - Display or print the source members that make up the tool PRTALLTAA The Print All TAA Command will print the documentation for all of the tools. Some users prefer hard copy, but the total output is about 5000 pages. Most users prefer to display or print a single tool with DSPTAA. Copyright TAA Tools, Inc. 1995, 2021

Is there a tool that does ...?

There are many TAA Tools for programmers, system managers, system
operators, security officers, auditors, and a few end user tools.

To determine whether there is a tool that will fit your requirements
or to acquire education about the tools, you should be familiar with
the following:

The taatool.com web site

Our web site at https://taatool.com contains all of the documentation
for every tool as well as a complete tool index with short
descriptions. When looking for a tool you may find it easiest to
search the index.

DSPTAACAT (Display TAA Categories) Command

The Display TAA Categories command provides a quick reference to the
TAA Tools by category such as spool, source, copy, etc.

The category names begin with an * and follow the typical system
naming conventions such as *SRC, *SPL, *SAV. A typical request would
be:

        DSPTAACAT CATEGORY(*SRC)

If you don't know the category, you can enter a word such as 'disk',
'system', 'backup', 'spool' or an abbreviation such as 'dsk', 'sys' or
'prin'. For example, you could enter:

        DSPTAACAT CATEGORY(dsk)

This will provide a subfile of choices for that will assist you in
identifying the proper category.

Two special options exist for the CATEGORY keyword:

-   If you take the default of *WORD, you will see a list of all the
    words that are supported that assist you in accessing a category.
    You may make a selection.

-   If you enter *CATEG, you will see a subfile of all the categories
    and may make a selection.

After you select a category, a subfile will be displayed of all the
tools in that category. Some tools are described in multiple
categories such as the ADDDAT tool which appears in both the *ADD and
*DAT categories.

Each tool is assigned a 'popularity level' of 1, 2, or 3 where 1 is
the most popular. The 'popularity level' was chosen arbitrarily to
help minimize what the typical user would want to see. By default,
only the most popular tools (level 1) are shown when the display
initially appears.

The 'level counts' appear at the top of the display to describe
additional tools (if any).

The F11 key may be used to display additional levels. You can also set
your own default with F21 to determine what levels you want to see by
default.

The 'Display TAA Categories' subfile provides several functions:

-   Options exist to let you display the documentation as either a
    single paragraph explanation (Display Heading option) or the full
    description of the tool (Display Tool option). You can also print
    the full documentation.

    When the full documentation is displayed, the F7 key may be
    pressed to see a summary of the number of members and source
    statements that make up the tool.

-   The '7' option allows you to access the commands supported by the
    tool. This is the DSPTOOLCMD tool (described in detail later) and
    provides a subfile of the commands associated with the tool. From
    this subfile, you can prompt for and run the command (some
    commands can only be used in CL programs).

-   The '9' option allows you to access WRKTAA for the tool. Using the
    F10 key from WRKTAA will allow you to see the source members that
    make up the tool and also to display or copy the source.

-   You can change to a different category by entering a different
    category at the top of the display (replacing the name of the
    category you are reviewing).

-   You can minimize the number of tools you need to review by
    entering additional categories at the top of the display. For
    example, if you are reviewing the *DAT tools, you could also enter
    *ADD and see only those tools that appear in both categories.

-   The F13 key (if it appears) means the tool has a related category.
    For example, the *PRT category is related to *SPL. If there is
    only a single related category, it is described and may be
    accessed immediately. If there are multiple related categories, a
    list of these is presented and you may make a selection.

PRTTAACAT (Print TAA Categories) Command

The Print TAA Categories command provides hard copy for the tools by
category or all categories. For example, if you are the Security
Officer, you might be interested in the tools that are in the security
(*SEC) category. A typical command would be:

        PRTTAACAT CATEGORY(*SEC)

This would produce spooled output with one line per tool.

If you want a little more detail about the tools, you can print a one
paragraph description of the tools by category by specifying:

        PRTTAACAT CATEGORY(*SEC) PRTTYP(*DETAIL)

By default, the listing would include all 'levels' of tools. You can
review the popular tools by specifying LVL(1).

You can print all of the tools with or without the one paragraph
description by specifying a category of *ALL.

PRTTAACAT is an option on the HELPTAA menu. Some tools appear in
multiple categories.

FNDCMD (Find Command) Command

Another good tool to become familiar with is FNDCMD. When TAA is
installed, the TAACMFBP file is built with one record for each command
on the system. This includes TAA commands, QSYS commands, and your own
commands. It excludes the previous release libraries and duplicates
found in QSYS.

You can do a quick review of all commands that match a string of
characters. For example:

        FNDCMD JOBD

will display all commands on the system that have the string JOBD.

Another tool that uses TAACMFBP is the FNDCMDTXT tool which allows you
to scan the text descriptions of the commands such as:

        FNDCMDTXT MAIL

All commands with MAIL in the text description would be displayed.

DSPTAACMD (Display TAA Command) Command

The Display TAA Command provides a quick reference to the TAA Tool
commands.

While DSPTAACMD can be very helpful, keep in mind the following:

-   Not all tools have a command interface. Some tools are APIs (just
    programs). Some tools are documentation only, but contain source
    code ready to be copied. Some tools are documentation only.

-   Some tools have multiple commands.

-   Some tools have a single command that is not the name of the tool.

DSPTAACMD displays a subfile based on your selection criteria. There
are 3 different types of requests you can make:

-   If you know the command verb (e.g. RTV, CPY, PRT), enter the
    command as:

            DSPTAACMD CMD(RTV)

-   If you know the abbreviation that is used within the command name
    (e.g. SRC, SPL), enter the command as:

            DSPTAACMD CMD(SRC) SCAN(*NAME)

-   If you know a word that you think will be in the command object
    text description (e.g. queue, spool), enter the command to scan
    the text description as:

            DSPTAACMD CMD(QUEUE) SCAN(*TEXT)

When the subfile is displayed, you may use options to display or print
the tool documentation, or prompt for the command.

DSPTAACMD is an option on the HELPTAA menu.

DSPTOOLCMD (Display Tool Command)

If you know the tool name and want to see the commands associated with
a tool, use DSPTOOLCMD such as:

        DSPTOOLCMD TOOL(SAVALLCHG)

If you know a command name, you can find out the other command names
that are part of the same tool by specifying the command name.

        DSPTOOLCMD TOOL(SAVALLSAVF)

The SAVALLSAVF command is a part of the SAVALLCHG tool. The display
would appear as if you had entered TOOL(SAVALLCHG).

DSPTOOLCMD is an option on the HELPTAA menu and also on the DSPTAACAT
display.

Learning more about a tool

Once you know the tool you want to use (or want more information on),
you may be able to learn all you need to know by just prompting for
the command. Most tools have a command interface that is the same name
as the tool name. For example, EDTVAR is both the name of the tool and
the command name for the 'Edit Variable' tool.

The parameter descriptions may be adequate to describe what the
command does. If not, all of the commands support help text which may
provide you with enough information. Access the Help text for a
command as you would any system command by using the Help key or F1.
Depending on where the cursor is positioned, you will receive help
text for a specific parameter or a command overview. The command
overview also lets you see the help text for each parameter.

Sometimes you will need to review the documentation for a tool before
you can properly use it. For example:

-   A tool may have multiple commands and you may need to understand
    what each does before using any.

-   A tool may be an API (such as a program) where the parameter list
    needs to be understood.

-   A tool may require action on your part before using it such as
    entering data into a data area to describe your environment.

To see the documentation for a tool, you can use an option from the
DSPTAACAT or DSPTAACMD displays or use the DSPTAA command directly
such as:

        DSPTAA EDTVAR

Other functions

TAASUMMARY

The TAASUMMARY page on our web site describes all of the tools in
alphabetical sequence with a one paragraph description per tool. This
is over 150 pages of output. You can display or print the information.

TAA Archive

The documentation and source code for the tools originate as source
members in a source file. To conserve space, the source and
documentation are compressed and shipped in an archive. You can
display or print any member of the archive with the DSPTAA command as
described previously:

        DSPTAA EDTVAR

If you know the source member that you want to display, you can use
DSPTAA. The tool documentation describes the names of the source
members that are used to execute the tool. For example, TAACLPC is the
command definition source for the EDTVAR command. You can display it
with:

        DSPTAA TAACLPC

There are several commands that work with the TAA Archive and these
commands are options from the WRKTAA subfile display. The following
command will let you access the archive:

        WRKTAA

From the Archive subfile display you can:

-   Position to a tool

-   Print or display the tool documentation

-   Copy out a tool (copy to a normal source member)

-   Display heading information about the tool including a one
    paragraph description

-   Display or print the source members that make up the tool

PRTALLTAA

The Print All TAA Command will print the documentation for all of the
tools. Some users prefer hard copy, but the total output is about 5000
pages. Most users prefer to display or print a single tool with
DSPTAA.

Copyright TAA Tools, Inc. 1995, 2021

Added to TAA Productivity tools April 1, 1995

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