# Viewing and working with generation data groups

You can display and work with generation data groups in the Remote Systems and z/OS Projects views.

Before you begin
You need to be connected to a z/OS system with generation data group resources.
About this task
A generation data group (GDG) is a group of related data sets. Each data set within a GDG is called a generation data set (GDS) or generation. A GDG base is a catalog entry for a GDG, and represents a GDG. Rational Developer for System z provides GDG support that enables you to display and manipulate GDGs and GDSs in the Remote Systems view. The z/OS Projects and Remote z/OS Search views enable you to display and work with GDSs. All functions available for data sets are available for GDSs, except the following:

Add a GDG to a subproject
  You can add a GDS in a GDG to a subproject and perform any operations available for a data set, but you cannot add a GDG as a group to a subproject.
Search with a GDG
  The Search action is disabled for GDGs, so that you cannot search in a GDG. Search result do not include GDGs. Search result do include GDSs, and you can perform any operation available for a data set.
Copy a GDG
  The Copy action is disabled for GDGs. You cannot copy an entire GDG.
Paste to a GDG
  The Paste action is disabled for GDGs. You cannot paste a data set into a GDG.
Rename a GDG
  The Rename action is disabled for GDGs. You cannot rename an entire GDG.

See the following topics for more information on displaying and working with GDGs and GDSs.

- Viewing GDGs and GDSs
- Defining a generation data group
- Allocating a generation data set

- Viewing GDGs and GDSs
  If you are connected to a z/OS system that contains GDGs, these files appear under the MVS Files node of the Remote Systems view.
- Defining a generation data group
  You can define a new generation data group from the Remote Systems view.
- Deleting a resource
  You can delete a file in the Remote Systems view or the z/OS Projects view.
- Allocating a generation data set
  You can allocate a new generation data set in a GDG from the Remote Systems view.

Parent topic: z/OS Integrated Development Environment (zIDE)
Related reference
Chapter 29, "Processing Generation Data Groups" from z/OS DFSMS Using Data Sets