Global Variables Overview

Using Global Variables › Global Variables Overview

Global Variables Overview

CA OPS/MVS global variables include OPS/REXX compound symbols and compound symbols that contain a defined, global stem. These global variables have the following characteristics:

Global variables can contain many types of data. This data can be critical to the proper operation of CA OPS/MVS itself, and all its components, or it can be relevant only to one small, user-written application.
You can share these variables globally throughout the entire CA OPS/MVS architecture. For example, you can share these variables by TSO address spaces, AOF rules, CA OPS/MVS servers, and batch jobs.
You can save global variables across system IPLs and CA OPS/MVS restarts, as is the case with the nonvolatile, standard global variables.
You can also decide to have volatile global variables, so that the lives of the product variables are not kept across IPLs, as is the case with temporary global variables.

This table indicates where you can find more information about global variables:

Subject	Description	See…
OPS/REXX and global variables	A description of global variables in an OPS/REXX context	Global Variable Basics and OPS/REXX in this chapter
Global variables and CA OPS/MVS installation	Things to consider about global variables before and during the installation of CA OPS/MVS	The Administration Guide
Using global variables	Tips to help you use global variables	Global Variable Characteristics in this chapter
Global variables and OPSVIEW	An explanation of how you can manipulate global variables using OPSVIEW, the menu driven, CA OPS/MVS user interface	The OPSVIEW User Guide
Global variables and AOF	How to use global variables from the Automated Operations Facility perspective	The AOF Rules User Guide
Global variables and ESI	How you can access global variables with the Expert System Interface	Access and Update Global Variables in the chapter “Expert System Interface (ESI)”
Global variable backup and restore	An overview of the CA OPS/MVS feature that can backup and restore your global variable database	Backup and Restore Global Variables in this chapter
OPSVALUE function	Information about when you should use the OPSVALUE function	The AOF Rules User Guide and the Command and Function Reference