IBM Tivoli NetView for z/OS Programming: Pipes - IBM notice

Chapter 1. NetView Pipelines Introduction and General
Concepts
What Is a Pipeline
This chapter introduces NetView pipelines. It also documents general-use
programming interface and associated guidance information.
Note: If you are already familiar with pipeline concepts, you might want to go
directly to Chapter 2, “Pipeline Stages and Syntax,” on page 19.
NetView pipelines help you solve a complex problem by dividing the problem into
a set of smaller, simpler steps. Each step or stage handles one part of the overall
problem. PIPE stages can:
v Read data from system sources, such as files on DASD or variables in command
procedures.
v Filter and refine the data.
v Export (output) the data from the pipeline.
You can connect stages in logical sequence until they collectively cover all steps
required to solve your problem.
You determine the function of each stage by coding a stage name as described in
Chapter 2, “Pipeline Stages and Syntax,” on page 19. A stage name and its related
parameters is called a stage specification.
When you have completed a series of stage specifications, you can run them with
the PIPE command. The PIPE command identifies the series of stage specifications
you want to run and, through command parameters, controls other run
characteristics to be described later. A collection of stage specifications and the
instructions for connecting them is called a pipeline specification.
It might help you to understand pipelines if you think of them as a plumbing
pipeline. In Table 1, a NetView pipeline is compared to a common plumbing
pipeline in a water treatment system:
Table 1. Comparing a NetView Pipeline to a Plumbing Pipeline
A Plumbing Pipeline A NetView Pipeline
Receives water from some source: a reservoir Receives data from some source: a keyboard
or a well.
or a disk.
Passes water through the system. Passes data through stages.
Combines different sizes and shapes of pipes Combines different stage specifications to
to perform complex purification processes. perform complex data refinement.
Delivers purified water: to taps or showers. Delivers refined data: to other programs or
storage.
Keep that metaphor in mind as you read, and as you view succeeding graphic
illustrations in this chapter, imagine data flowing from left to right in each
diagram.
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