Patent ID: 7797334

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of retrieving software elements on a mainframe to a local area network for importation to a software logic analyzer, the method comprising: the mainframe receiving export parameters, the export parameters comprising at least three selected from the group consisting of a project indicator, an intermediate storage area indicator, an element type indicator, and an element modification time limit; the mainframe generating a report indicating one or more software elements that meet one or more criteria specified in the export parameters, the software elements comprising at least three selected from the group consisting of source code, a copybook, a control card, a bind card, and a job control language file; the mainframe, responsive to a command received at the mainframe, exporting the indicated software elements from a software configuration management tool on the mainframe into a plurality of sub-areas in an intermediate storage area of the mainframe, wherein the sub-areas correspond to respective partitioned data sets on the mainframe and were created based at least in part on the report; and downloading the indicated software elements from the plurality of sub-areas in the intermediate storage area of the mainframe to respective sub-areas in a storage area residing on one or more hard disks in the local area network and accessible to the software logic analyzer.