CICS/TS Application Programming Workshop
This five-day, hands-on course explains the functions and facilities of CICS, and teaches how to write efficient application programs using command level CICS. The course combines both tutor tuition and several extensive practical hands-on sessions.
On completing this course attendees will have written at least two CICS programs utilising a wide variety of CICS facilities and have run several CICS transactions. Attendees will gain an understanding of the need for an application architecture separating presentation from business/data logic, and will become familiar with BMS maps. The course also covers all the commonly used API options, with hands-on exercises.
This course is also available for exclusive one-company presentations and for live presentation over the Internet, via the Virtual Classroom Environment service.
Virtual Classroom Environment dates - click to book!
UK Start Times
10 February 2025 21 April 2025What is a 'Virtual Classroom Environment'?
What do I need?
- webcam
- headphones with microphone
- sufficient bandwidth, at least 1.5 Mb/s in each direction.
What you will learn
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- write CICS programs
- use the required CICS programming facilities
- separate presentation from business and data logic
- use the commonly used CICS API options.
Who Should Attend
This course is suitable for experienced Applications Programmers who require CICS skills and for trainees with at least six months of exposure to a high level language.
Prerequisites
Experience of COBOL, PL/I or Assembler. An understanding of CICS at the conceptual level would be an advantage; this can be obtained by attending the course CICS Transaction Server Concepts & Facilities.
Duration
5 days
Fee (per attendee)
£2360 (ex VAT)
This includes free online 24/7 access to course notes.
Hard copy course notes are available on request from rsmshop@rsm.co.uk
at £50.00 plus carriage per set.
Course Code
CAPW
Contents
Introduction
CICS Transaction Server; Customer Information Control System; What is a Transaction?; What is CICS?; Business and CICS transactions and tasks; What is a CICS program?; Characteristics; Access to CICS; ISC / MRO; CICS/TS organisation; Principal Domains/Management modules; CICS resource definitions.
Architecture
Starting a transaction; Logging on; Message Input; Transaction validation; Program loading; Task execution; Program execution; Task Termination; Multi-tasking and multi-threading; The CICS Dispatcher; Multiple TCBs.
Command Level API
Objectives; Command format and arguments; Translation; Program preparation; Integrated translator; Translator options; Explanation of command argument types; Explanation of CICS Value Data Areas; Explanation of syntax diagrams; EXEC Interface Block; The CICS Stub; Handling responses; RESP and NOHANDLE option; RESP examples; HANDLE CONDITION command and rules; IGNORE condition; Coding examples.
Application Design
Conversational transactions; Pseudo-conversational transactions; COMMAREA; Three-Tier Application Design.
Basic Mapping Support (BMS)
Native Terminal Control; Using Basic Mapping Support (BMS); Another view of BMS; Un-formatted data streams; Formatted data streams; Example 3270 data display; Control Indicator & Character; Read Modified Input; Basic Attributes; Extended attributes; Program Function keys; BMS (data mapping); BMS example; The macros used to create the screen; BMS output (COBOL); The suffixed fields; Attribute list; BMS output (PL/I); BMS output (C); BMS output (Assembler); Map generation; DFHMDI; DFHMDF; DFHMDF; Symbolic description; EXEC CICS SEND MAP; EXEC CICS RECEIVE MAP; COPYBOOKS.
Program Control
EXEC CICS LINK; LINK options and arguments; EXEC CICS XCTL; COMMAREA mismatched lengths; EXEC CICS LOAD; EXEC CICS RELEASE; EXEC CICS RETURN; COBOL CALL statement; Passing data to the next task: COBOL, PL/I, C; Program structure; Logical levels; Passing data to other programs: COBOL, PL/I, C, Assembler.
CECI and CEDF
The Command Interpreter CECI; Using CECI; Using Variables with CECI; Displaying Large Variables; Storing a command; Execute Diagnostic Facility (CEDF); CICS Messages and Code (CMAC).
File Access
File Access; File Control Terminology; File Management; File Commands; EXEC CICS READ; Options; EXEC CICS REWRIT; EXEC CICS DELETE; EXEC CICS UNLOCK; EXEC CICS WRITE;; EXEC CICS STARTBR; EXEC CICS READNEXT; EXEC CICS READPREV; EXEC CICS ENDBR; EXEC CICS RESETBR.
Channel and Containers
The 32K COMMAREA problem; The 32K solution; Channel Usage; The Current Channel; Channel scope; Channel deletion; Channel commands; Channel creation and deletion; EXEC CICS PUT CONTAINER CHANNEL; EXEC CICS ASSIGN CHANNEL; EXEC CICS GET CONTAINER; EXEC CICS MOVE CONTAINER; EXEC CICS DELETE CONTAINER CHANNEL; EXEC CICS STARTBROWSE CHANNEL; EXEC CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER; EXEC CICS ENDBROWSE CONTAINER; Migration of programs that use LINK; Migration of Programs That Use START.
Temporary Storage
Temporary storage; EXEC CICS WRITEQ TS; EXEC CICS READQ TS; EXEC CICS DELETEQ TS; The Temporary Storage Browse Transaction CEBR; CEBR HELP Facility; Transferring Queues Between Transient Data and Temporary Storage.
Transient Data
Transient Data queues; Intrapartition Transient Data queues; Extrapartition Transient Data queues; Transient Data indirect queues; The CICS supplied TD queue definitions; EXEC CICS WRITEQ TD; EXEC CICS READQ TD; EXEC CICS DELETEQ TD; EXEC CICS ASSIGN.
Interval Control
Interval control; EXEC CICS ASKTIME; EXEC CICS FORMATTIME; EXEC CICS START; EXEC CICS RETRIEVE; EXEC CICS CANCEL; EXEC CICS START CHANNEL.
Task Management
EXEC CICS SUSPEND; EXEC CICS ENQ; EXEC CICS DEQ.
Storage Management
EXEC CICS GETMAIN; EXEC CICS FREEMAIN; Storage violations; Transaction isolation.
Abnormal Termination
EXEC CICS ABEND; EXEC CICS HANDLE ABEND; ABEND handling requirements; EXEC CICS DUMP TRANSACTION; EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT; EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT ROLLBACK; SYNCPOINTS & Logical Units of Work (LUW); EXEC CICS ASSIGN.
Dumps & Traces
Dumps; Traces; EXEC CICS ENTER TRACENUM; Working out the Offset; Working out the source statement; Finding the contents of data variables; WORKING-STORAGE SECTION; LINKAGE SECTION - COBOL; OTHER Abends; Unhandled exception conditions (most AEIX/AEXX/AEYX); Translating Addresses to Source Code; Most AEIX, AEXX & AEYX ABENDs.
Screen Definition Facility 2 (SDF2)
Introduction to SDF II.
Case Study
The main exercise is to write a 'back-end' business /data logic program which is developed incrementally in order to ensure that a steady progress is achieved.
What the students say
Jamie knows his stuff and presents it in an entertaining AND informative manner.
Development Support Technician
Legal & General Assurance Society