CICS Command Level Application Programming
 

This 5 day course:

takes the Application programmer through the fundamentals and important issues of CICS Command Level Application Programming.

The student will learn the basics of Pseudo-conversational programming using standard CICS BMS-based and VSAM-file based coding techniques. Use of the DFHCOMMAREA, Temporary Storage, Transient Data queues and Program control commands (LINK, XCTL and RETURN) are all covered. The attending student will write a multi-program application 'case study' that incorporates all of the above topics.

The course not only teaches the use of the Command Level syntax, but incorporates CICS' native debugging tools (CECI, CEDF and CEBR) during the class exercise development process.

Duration: 5 days

Delivery: Class Lecture and Hands-on Labs

Audience: 

Application developers, System programmers, file designer and technical personnel that are involved with developing, and maintaining CICS Command Level Application Programs.

Prerequisites:

It is strongly recommended that the student:

• Have at least 1 year of programming experience (Able to code a program, in their language, from scratch)
• Understand IBM's Job Control Language (JCL) (Able to code enough JCL to run and compile a program that they have written.)
• Have experience in TSO, ISPF or its equivalent (Able to use the editor to edit, browse and review application code and output)

Workshops:

An OS/390 platform will be used to run class problems coded by the students.  Case studies will be used as a continuity point for students to tie all aspects of CICS Command Application Program processing from start to finish.

Outline:

1. Introduction to CICS

 CICS Terminology
 The CICS transaction 'cycle'
 CICS Resource Definitions:                                                                    The PCT, PPT, FCT
 The Application development process
 The CICS Translator
 CICS-supplied Transactions
         CEDF, CEMT, CEDA, CEOT, CECI, CMAC, CEBR

2. CICS & Program Storage areas

 DFHCOMMAREA (The Commarea)
 DFHEIBLK (The EIB) and fields used.
 The TWA (Transaction Work Area)
 The TCTUA & TCTTE
 The CWA (The CICS common area)
 The COBOL LINKAGE SECTION
 The ASSIGN Command
 The ADDRESS Commands

3. Application Coding & General Error Handling

 Command Level Programming Syntax
 Rules
 Error Handling Techniques
         HANDLE CONDITION command
         EIBRCODE option
         NOHANDLE & EIBRESP option

4. Communicating with the Terminal

 Basic terminal communication commands

 The SEND Command
 The RECEIVE Command
 Building an "Expert" System

 Basic Mapping Support (BMS) Macros

 DFHMSD, DFHMDI, DFHMDF
 The BMS Map preparation process
 The generated fields of BMS map preparation
 Attribute Bytes
 The DFHBMSCA Copybook

 The SEND MAP Command
 The RECEIVE MAP Command
 EIBAID and Handling PF Keys

5. Program Control Processing Commands

 The RETURN Command

 Restarting the Pseudo-conversation
 The role of the COMMAREA

 The LINK Command

 Passing parameters to another program

 The XCTL Command
 The SYNCPOINT Command
 The SYNCPOINT ROLLBACK Command

6. File Processing Commands

 The READ FILE Command
 The WRITE FILE Command
 The DELETE FILE Command
 The REWRITE FILE Command
 The STARTBR FILE Command
 The READNEXT FILE Command
 The READPREV FILE Command
 The RESETBR FILE Command
 The ENDBR FILE Command

7. Temporary Storage Queues

 The READQ TS Command
 The WRITEQ TS Command
 The DELETEQ TS Command

8. Transient Data Queues

 The READQ TD Command
 The WRITEQ TD Command
 The DELETEQ TD Command