When you use MO71 list dialogs, do you have a favourite filter that you use with them, or a screen position you prefer them to start up at. Do you have several list dialogs that you always use and your first step after launching MO71 is to start them up and position them where you want them?
For many years, MO71 has had a feature called predefined dialogs whereby you can define these dialogs you always use, with the filter and field values, e.g. queue name prefix, already in place. You can also ensure the dialog has initial refresh and/or auto refresh if you require those features. Then you can group these definitions together and then launch a group of dialogs with a single action, or even have the dialog launch when MO71 starts. You can also create dialogs that you can start from the context menu of queue managers.
In this post we’re going to show you how to create and invoke some predefined dialogs.
Start by showing the Predefined Dialog List which is found in the Action menu. From this list you can define, group, and start your predefined dialogs.
In the context menu, select “New” to create your first predefined dialog. We’ll start with the frequently used queue list. This is going to be a queue list that shows the queues for a specific application with a filter that adds colours for deep queues. In the creation dialog that appears we will set the following values.
- Select a “Type” of “List”
- In “Dialog Type” choose “Queues” from the drop-down
- Add a Description such as “Ordering App Queues”
- Type in a specific queue manager name in the “Queue Manager” field (for now)
- In the “Object Name” field, type in the queue prefix to use.
- Fill in the “Filter” with the following
bg(curdepth>100, red)
- Choose “Yes” for “Initial Refresh”
Once complete, press the Create button and your list window will now show the new definition.
Creating a predefined Queues list with a filter and queue prefix
We completely ignored the size and position settings when creating this predefined dialog. This is because it is much easier to invoke the new dialog and then position it and size it as you would normally do for a window, and then update the definition once you have got it just so. Let’s do that now.
From the context menu on the predefined dialog list, chose the “Start” option and your newly defined dialog will be invoked. Now move it and size it to exactly where on your screen you want to see it. Once you are happy with the size and position, select “Options → Update Predefined Definition” from the context menu of the dialog you have been moving and sizing.
Now close down the dialog and restart it from the predefined dialog list. You will see that it starts up at the position and size you just saved.
When you created the predefined dialog, you chose a specific queue manager for it to run against. Now you’re going to change it to run against any queue manager. Select “Open” from the predefined dialog list context menu and make the following changes:
- Edit the “Queue Manager” field to instead choose “<Prompt>” from the drop-down
- Select “Yes” in the “Context Command” field
Press Update to save these changes, and now “Start” the definition again to launch the dialog.
Change the definition to prompt for the queue manager name
This time you will see a little pop up window asking you to choose your queue manager before the dialog launches.
Prompting pop up
This is what the “<Prompt>” setting you chose does when you launch the dialog from the predefined list. However, there is another way to launch this dialog.
Navigate through your queue manager context menu to Predefined Dialogs → Invoice App Queues. This menu item will invoke your predefined dialog but you won’t see the little prompt pop up as the dialog will take the queue manager name from the context of the menu.
The Context Command setting puts your definition into the menu
Now we’re going to create a second predefined dialog to position alongside this first one, perhaps a channel status dialog for the application’s server-conn channels, something like this.
- Select a “Type” of “List”
- In “Dialog Type” choose “Channel Status” from the drop-down
- Add a Description such as “Ordering App SVRCONNs”
- Select “<Prompt>” from the “Queue Manager” drop-down
- In the “Object Name” field, type in the channel name prefix to use.
- Choose “Yes” for “Initial Refresh”
- Select “Yes” in the “Context” field
Once complete, press the Create button, then Start the new dialog, size and position it as you want it, and “Update Predefined Definition” with the new size and position as you did before.
Creating a predefined Channel Status list with a channel name prefix
Navigate through the context menu as before and you will now see that you have two items that you can use to invoke one or the other dialog.
Now both dialogs are available through the queue manager context menu
What if you always want them both to come up together? Let’s do that.
Back at your Predefined dialog list, edit both of your definitions in the following way:
- Change to “No” in the “Context Command” field
- Type in a group name, e.g. “OrderApp” in the “Groups” field
This removes them from the context menu we just saw.
Now create a new predefined dialog definition with the following values:
- Select a “Type” of “Group”
- In the “Groups” field type in the name of “OrderApp” – it must match what you used above
- Type in a “Description” something like “Ordering Application”
- Select “Yes” in the “Context Command” field
Press Create to make this new definition.
Creating a group definition
Now navigate to your context menu again and you will see only one entry, but when you select it, two dialogs will be invoked.
Now only the group item shows up on the context menu
I hope this has been a useful introduction to MO71 predefined dialogs. There are more options that you can use, all of which are detailed in the MO71 User Guide.
In addition, a recent release (V9.3.1) of MO71 added the concept of predefined Graphs, which you can read about here.
If you don’t have a licence and would like to try out MO71 then send an email to support@mqgem.com and a 1-month trial licence will be sent to you.
MQGem Software 