Considerations for Multilevel Applications

The system-level panels, functions, and environments form the base repository for all of the applications that can be invoked. Only one system level repository exists. The system level is activated when you log on to your system.

The group-level panels, functions, and environments form the intermediate repository. There can be many groups defined, but an individual user can use only one group at a time. Any specified group can be used concurrently by numerous users.

To access group level application definitions, you must specify a group name that is used to determine the data set name of a group user library. This option selection, GROUPSPEC, is available from the Programmer Services panel (Figure 1). See z/OS TSO/E Primer, for more information about accessing group level application definitions.

The applications at the group level can be definitions that are:

Copies of system definitions
Unique group definitions.

The private-level panels, functions, and environments form the lowest-level repository. The applications at this level can be definitions that are:

Copies of the system or group definitions
Unique private definitions.

Note: Application selection time increases when you use group and private application definitions.