Export and import of resource definitions

You can use CICSĀ® Configuration Manager to export resource definitions from a CSD file or a context to an export file. You can then transfer the export file to a separately managed system at a remote site (say, via the Internet), and import (copy) the resource definitions into a CSD file or a context on that system.

Figure 1. Using export files to transfer resource definitions between sites

For example, suppose that you are a New York-based CICS administrator working for an enterprise that has data centers around the world. The data centers run CICS applications that are developed at your site. When distributing application updates to the data centers, in addition to distributing the application code, you need to distribute new and updated resource definitions. Using CICS Configuration Manager, you write the resource definitions to an export file, transfer the export file to the other data centers, and they import the resource definitions.

Is it an export file or import file?

You can use the terms "export file" and "import file" to refer to the same file depending on how it is being used. At the site where the file is created, the file is typically referred to as an export file. At the site where the contents of the file are imported, the file is typically referred to as an import file. For the sake of consistency, and to make it easier to search for related information, this documentation uses the term "export file" throughout.