What's new in IBM File Manager for z/OS® 17.1

Latest service:
For details of the APARs that have been addressed in each release, see Latest PTFs for IBM File Manager for z/OS.

New features and enhancements in V17.1.0, October 2026

This version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes.
  • HCL Doc IQ, AI-powered search and assistance: With Version 17.1.0 we have integrated an AI-driven chat assistant built directly into the documentation portal. Powered by Agentic RAG and Large Language Models (LLMs), HCL Doc IQ lets you ask technical questions in plain language and receive precise, context-aware answers instantly. The chat assistant eliminaties the need to manually search through topics and search results. All responses are generated exclusively from official product documentation to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability. Simply click the HCL Doc IQ icon in the corner of the portal to get started.
  • Added support for specifying an IMSGROUP to identify the active IMS subsystem in BMP mode. This allows FM/IMS to connect to an active IMS subsystem associated with a specified IMSGROUP. See Specifying the IMS Group
  • Added the IMSGROUP parameter to the Miscellaneous IMS subsystem details to document the support identifying an IMS subsystem by its associated IMSGROUP.
  • Added new topic IMSGROUP=identifier parameter to document the support on the FMN1POPI macro to identify IMS subsystems that belong to an IMSGROUP in BMP mode.
  • Added the LIST parameter to the FM/IMS installation options to control which IMS subsystems are included in the FM/IMS subsystem selection list. See topic LIST
  • Added support for DFSESL DD in FM IMS, both for ISPF & Batch edit in BMP Mode. See topic SDSNLOADn.
  • Updated the IMS and FM/IMS datasets table to document the SDSNLOAD dataset parameter and indicate that it cannot be overridden. See table IMS and FM/IMS data sets.
  • Updated the following topics to document support for specifying an IMSGROUP as the IMS subsystem name in BMP mode. FM/IMS connects to the first active IMS subsystem associated with the specified IMSGROUP.
  • Added new File Manager IMS Messages. See topic File Manager IMS Messages.
  • Added a new topic to document the use of compiler via security profiles. See topic Controlling the Use of the Compiler via Security Profiles.
  • Updated SHOWPLI command section to describe the output messages. See topic Customizing for processing PL/I include books.
  • Added documentation for the DB2ALIB option, including its syntax, purpose, and usage requirements for supporting the GEN command externally with Db2 Administration Tool® load libraries.
  • Updated the PLAN2 option documentation to clarify its relationship with DB2ALIB, including the requirement to specify the plan name when DB2ALIB is used.
  • Updated the restriction in the IMS management of ACBs section. Clarified that FM/IMS requires IMS APAR PH40873 (PTF UO06108) to access logical databases in an IMS-managed ACB environment. See IMS management of ACBs.
  • Clarified the preference of the File Manager internal PL/I compilers over the licensed site compiler and documented how to select the internal compiler version using the ALTPLI option. Added a table that documents the order of precedence for internal and external PL/I compilers. See topic Customizing for processing PL/I include books
  • Enhanced the SHOWPLI command documentation to explain that the command identifies whether File Manager is using the internal or external PL/I compiler. Added the batch and ISPF output messages that indicate which PL/I compiler is in use, including the message displayed when a licensed PL/I compiler is used. See SHOWPLI command
  • Added new topics under to document how to use and configure a licensed site PL/I compiler, including LINKLIST and batch JCL skeleton configuration, APF authorization requirements, and suppression of PL/I compiler warning messages.

    See topics: Using a licensed site PL/I compiler, Adding the PL/I compiler library to the LINKLIST, Adding the PL/I compiler library to the batch JCL skeletons, Authorizing the PL/I compiler library for batch processing, and Suppressing PL/I compiler warning messages.

  • Added information about the FILEM.PLI.EXTERNAL FACILITY class profile to control use of the licensed site PL/I compiler, including RACF access requirements and handling of RACROUTE STATUS=ACCESS requests. See topic Controlling the use of the PL/I compiler.
  • Updated Changing the JCL skeleton for batch mode to document how to configure the STEPLIB DD statement for a licensed PL/I compiler and how to use the FMNPLI DD DUMMY statement to force the File Manager internal PL/I compiler.
  • Added a new feature to the File Manager User's Guide and Reference that allows users to use the SHOWPLI command to identify the PL/I compiler currently used by File Manager. See topic Checking which PL/I compiler you are using.
  • Updated the topic Edit model example: JCL that calls the DSC function to document how to configure the PL/I compiler library in STEPLIB and how to force use of the File Manager PL/I compiler.
  • Updated the documentation for the IGNLEN option to clarify that record length mismatches include records that are shorter or longer than the corresponding template structure. See topics DSM (Data Set Compare), DSEB (Data Set Edit Batch) -- batch only, DSP (Data Set Print), and DSC (Data Set Copy).
  • Updated message FMNBA710 to clarify that both compare sets can be empty even when the input data sets contain records. See topic File Manager messages.
  • Added new topic SHOWPLI primary command to document how to display information about the PL/I compiler currently being used by File Manager.
  • File Manager for z/OS® now supports Copying to and from VSAM Database data sets.

New features and enhancements in V16.1.4, June 2026

This version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes.
  • The View/Compare Load Module (VLM/CLM) functions have been enhanced to improve the accuracy and the detail of compilation metadata. The reported CSECT compilation date now includes the time (if available) in hh:mm:ss format. This enhancement provides more precise information for identifying and comparing load modules, particularly in environments where multiple compilations occur on the same date. See Load Module Information panel and Comparing load modules.
  • Enhanced support for Unicode fields in selection criteria and freeform expressions. You can specify plain text values when using the TFLD function with supported comparison and content-matching operators. An example for the SURNAME field demonstrates case-insensitive matching using CU. See TFLD and Entering criteria as a freeform expression for more details.
  • A new topic Managing record selection criteria in File Manager, has been added. The topic describes how to save and retrieve record selection criteria during template editing by using the RA, SR, and GR commands on the Field Selection/Edit panel. It introduces reference groups for storing criteria and enables reuse of saved selection conditions across sessions.
  • Updated instructions to the topic Installation requirements for File Manager on Eclipse for generating dynamic software compatibility reports through IBM IBM® Software Product Compatibility Reports (SPCR) to help users obtain the latest supported operating systems, hardware requirements, and software prerequisites.
  • A new Installation requirements topic has been added to File Manager on VS Code, describing both host and client requirements. The existing installation requirements topic for File Manager on Eclipse has been updated with current version information and references to SPCR.
  • Updated the topics to clarify the relationship between the PROD_EDIT option and the default values of the TABLE_LOCKING, TABLE_LOCKING, and EDIT_MAX_ROWS options. Documentation for each option now specifies how its default value is determined based on the current PROD_EDIT setting, ensuring that users understand the dependencies between these configuration options.

New features and enhancements in V16.1.3, February 2026

This version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes.

File Manager has been updated to align its handling of the ISPF Packed format with the global ISPF setting Global_Disable_Pack, when a new File Manager option ISPFGLBL is enabled. See ISPFGLBL:
  • A new ISPFGLBL option is introduced in the Customization Guide. When set to YES, File Manager for z/OS® enforces ISPF global settings; when NO (default), File Manager for z/OS® behavior remains unchanged and independent of ISPF globals.
  • If ISPF globally disables packed data:
    • Users can still read and interpret existing packed data, but cannot save or rewrite data in packed format.
    • PACK-related options and commands (PACK, PACK=ASIS) become unavailable or are ignored, and data is always saved in standard format.
  • Updated multiple User Guide sections to document the enforced behavior when ISPF packed format is restricted.
  • Enhanced panels and informational messages to clearly notify users when ISPF packed data is disabled and explain File Manager for z/OS® resulting behavior. see Editor Options panel.
  • Added new system messages FMNBB674 - FMNBB678 to explicitly indicate when packed format usage, related commands, or options are unavailable or overridden. See File Manager messages.
  • File Manager now supports creating VSAM Database data sets and alternate indexes with up to five key names. These are the only File Manager for z/OS® functions that currently support VSAM Database. See VSAM Define panel and AIX Entry Detail panel.
  • Support for the PASSWORD=REMEMBER option has been removed. Use PASSWORD=PASSTICKET for FM/CICS logon handling. See topic Starting FM/CICS.

New features and enhancements in V16.1.2, October 2025

This version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes. It also includes the following new support:

New features and enhancements in V16.1.1, June 2025

This version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes. It also includes the following new support:
  • New option, F5 Clear, has been added to the Enhanced Search Command panel to clear all fields on the panel. See Enhanced Search command panel for an example.
  • A new edit option has been added to use an auxiliary data set when viewing a large non-VSAM data set that will not fit into memory. See the new edit option in Editor Options panel and the new option VIEWAUX.
  • A new option, "MLIST" has been added to both the List and Search Options panel and the Report View Options panel. Select this option to produce an ISPF member list for up to 16 data set names referenced in the current view or edit session. See Using F4 from the command line and Using F4 for enhanced search report filtering commands for more information.

New features and enhancements in V16.1.0, March 2025 (refresh)

This refresh version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes. It also includes the following new support:
  • File Manager provides a Microsoft Visual Studio Code extension client with an intuitive interface to access, edit, and manage data sets and files on z/OS systems. See File Manager on VS Code for more details about downloading the extension.

New features and enhancements in V16.1.0, December 2024 (refresh)

This refresh version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes. It also includes the following new support:

New features and enhancements in V16.1.0, First edition, October 2024

This version of File Manager for z/OS® rolls up a number of miscellaneous fixes. It also includes the following new support:
  • File Manager provides updated internal COBOL and PL/I compilers with this version. Starting with this version, by default, the internal default COBOL compiler is used and additional internal compilers are provided.

    To determine which File Manager COBOL compiler is to be used, a new option, ALTCOB, has been added. See ALTCOB for more information about the available COBOL compilers.

    To determine which File Manager PL/I compiler is to be used, a new option, ALTPLI, has been added. See ALTPLI for more information about the available PL/I compilers.

    To discover the level of the internal PL/I compiler being used, a new command is available, SHOWPLI, from both batch and the File Manager command line. See Customizing for processing PL/I include books for more information about submitting this command.

    Updated the security configuration to reflect compiler behavior changes; the Facility class profile FILEM.COBOL.INTERNAL is no longer used and has been replaced by FILEM.COBOL.EXTERNAL, due to the File Manager internal compiler now being the default. See Customizing for processing COBOL copybooks.

  • Auto detect for compiler languages now supports Assembler and is more efficient. See "Auto detect" in Selecting your compiler language.
  • A new option has been added to the Editor Options panel, Show nullable column indicators, so that FM/Db2 displays an indicator for columns with nullable status. See Editor Options (4 of 8) panel for more details. For example output, see Table Edit panel, Table Browse panel, and Table View panel.
  • New keywords for the File Manager DEFV function to produce VSAM define statements for Data, Index, and Catalog names in addition to supporting alternate Index, Path, and GDG data sets. See DEFV (Define VSAM Statements) for the syntax and details.
  • FM/Db2 IVP updates for supported versions of Db2 Version 12 and later. See the section Verifying the customization of FM/Db2 for the updates.
  • Enhancement of SQL prototyping. See Basic SELECT Prototyping panel.
  • Added support for simple comments in SQL statement execution. See Enter, Execute and Explain SQL Statements panel.