Target Audience

This course provides the applications programmer with an in-depth knowledge of the CICS development process. It is aimed at programmers who need to code or support CICS application programs written in COBOL or PL1 that access VSAM Files.

Pre-requisites

The delegate should be familiar with the z/OS host environment, together with a working knowledge of either COBOL or PL/I program development using TSO / ISPF.

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to provide the programmer, unfamiliar with CICS, with the necessary skills required to design, write, code and test both CICS programs and BMS Maps. On completion of this course the student will be able to:

•     describe the functions of a BMS Map
•     design, create, build and test a BMS Map
•     design and write a CICS program in either COBOL or PL1
•     use common CICS supplied transactions to view and maintain CICS resources
•     define resources to CICS using CEDA
•     access VSAM files from CICS programs
•     describe and use CICS Temporary Storage
•     describe and use CICS Transient Data
•     code exceptional condition testing
•     code programs which handle database backout and recovery
•     understand the concepts of Multi-Regional Operation
•     understand the concepts of WebSphere MQ and CICS interaction
•     use the COMMAREA or CHANNELS and CONTAINERS to pass data

Course Details

INTRODUCTION

CICS Overview

What Does CICS Do?

The Operating System and CICS

Sharing Resources

Talking to Terminals

Online Programs

On-Line/Batch Comparisons

CICS Recovery

The CICS Pre-Processor (Translator)

Starting CICS

SCREEN HANDLING

Basic Mapping Support (BMS)

Writing a BMS Map

The BMS Symbolic Descriptor Map

Sending a BMS Map

Receiving a BMS Map

DFHMSD - Map Set Definition

DFHMDI - Map Description Init

DFHMDF - Map Description Field

Testing the User Response

Dynamic Attributes

Send Text

Screen Development Using SDF II

Creating a Map

Adding a Map to a Mapset (optional)

Map Generation

TRANSACTIONS AND TASKS

Transactions

Running Many Transactions between Screens

Starting a CICS Transaction

Tasks

Conversational Processing

Pseudo-Conversational Processing

Synchronous Tasks

Asynchronous Tasks

PROGRAM CONTROL

Passing Data between Programs - The COMMAREA

The LINK Command

The XCTL Command

The RETURN Command

The START Command

The RETRIEVE Command

CICS Exec Interface Block (EIB)

CONTAINERS AND CHANNELS

Commarea History

Why Change from using the Commarea?

Container and Channel Advantages

What are Containers and Channels?

Creating Containers and Channels

Reading Containers and Channels

Sending and Receiving Example

Container and Channel Rules

The Current Channel

Browsing All Container Names in a Channel

Summary Of Channel Commands

Migrating From Commarea To Channels and Containers

CICS TABLES

CICS Tables

The Program Control Table (PCT)

The Processing Program Table (PPT)

The File Control Table (FCT)

The Resource Control Table (RCT)

Resource Definition On-Line (RDO)

RDO Diagram

CEDA Commands

SUPPLIED TRANSACTIONS

CEDF - CICS Execution Diagnostic Facility

CECI - Command Interpreter

CEMT - Control Transaction

CEBR - Browsing Temporary Storage

VSAM DATASETS

Types of VSAM Dataset

VSAM KSDS Datasets

Reading a VSAM KSDS

Writing a VSAM KSDS

Deleting a VSAM KSDS

Updating a VSAM KSDS

Unlocking a VSAM KSDS

Browsing a File

Batch and On-Line File Access

SCRATCHPAD FACILITIES

CICS Temporary Storage

Creating or Updating a Temporary Storage Queue

Reading a Temporary Storage Queue

Deleting a Temporary Storage Queue

Queue Naming Conventions

CICS Transient Data

Intrapartition Transient Data

Extrapartition Transient Data

Transient Data Access

BACKOUT AND RECOVERY

EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT

EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT ROLLBACK

EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS

EXEC CICS HANDLE Condition

EXEC CICS IGNORE Condition

The NOHANDLE Option

EXEC CICS Handle ABEND

The RESP Option

Forcing a Program ABEND

CICS Response Codes

ADDITIONAL COMMANDS

Getmain and Address

Freemain

Query Security

Assign Userid

ENQ / DEQ

Send Text

MULTI REGIONAL OPERATION

DUMPS AND TRACES

Transaction Dumps

EXEC CICS Dump

Auxiliary Trace

WEBSPHERE MQ AND CICS

What Is Messaging?

Why use Messaging?

Basic Messaging Concepts

Messaging Domains - Types of Messaging

MQSeries-CICS Bridge Applications

Linking to CICS from MQSeries

An Example Of Cics Transaction Invocation

Connecting To A Queue Manager

Disconnecting From A Queue Manager

Creating A Dynamic Queue

Opening An Existing Queue

Closing A Queue

Putting a Message Into A Queue

Getting a Message

Course Format

The course contains many practical exercises to ensure familiarity with the product. Students create CICS programs which capture data via BMS Maps, accessing data held in both VSAM Files and Temporary Storage Queues. On completion of this course students will be ready to start the development of CICS application programs. The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.