Excalibur Training Services Ltd

Excalibur Training Services: CICS Programming

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*CICS Overview *CICS Programming *Advanced CICS Programming

CICS Overview

A one day course to give a basic understanding of how CICS cater for the on-line environment. Extremely helpful to those involved with interpreter and generator packages that run under CICS as well as programmers, analysts and operators, or indeed anyone requiring a basic knowledge of the way CICS executes.

Introduction Comparison of on-line batch systems; Overview of CICS system; The functions it performs
Task/Transaction Program execution; Control tables; How transactions flow through the system
Program development Command level programming; Translation/compilation process; Passing control using LINK, XCTL, and RETURN; efficient programming techniques
BMS Introduction to Basic Mapping Support; How maps are used
CICS Control Blocks EIB; CSA; CWA; TWA; TCTUA
CICS Failures How CICS copes with transaction and system failures; Restricting access using security keys
Modal Commands Condition Codes; Modal commands; AMS commands


CICS Programming

A highly practical course lasting four or five days, depending on the experience of those attending, to enable participants to be able to design, code and test Command level CICS programs. A background knowledge of MVS is preferable for delegates.

Introduction On-line functions and characteristics; CICS system overview; Control tables; Tasks and transactions
Command Level Programs Format of the command; The interpreter and its functions
Screen handling Design considerations; Maps and mapsets; BMS Macros; BMS commands; Cursor control; Changing attributes dynamically
Program Control Transferring control; XCTL, LINK and return; Conversational and pseudo-conversational techniques
File Access File Control Table; Sequential and direct access on VSAM data sets
Exec Interface Block fields and uses; Testing which key was pressed; the HANDLE AID command
Error Detection Common errors; detecting errors using HANDLE CONDITION and IGNORE CONDITION commands; Using NOHANDLE and RESP options; Use of EDF in testing
Passing Data COMMAREA; CWA, TWA, Transient Data and Temporary Storage


Advanced CICS Programming

For those who need further knowledge of CICS, particularly efficient techniques and paging using temporary Storage. Ideally the delegate will have attended the CICS Programming course and had an opportunity to utilise the skills learnt before attending this three day course.

CICS Control Vlocks TWA, CWA, TCTUA etc.; Required table entries; ADDRESS and ASSIGN; COBOL BLL cells and the COBOL II ADDRESS special register
Control Operation Interval Control commands; Storage Control commands
TS, TD and Journals Uses; Commands involved; Paging techniques; USE of the CEBR transaction
Security and Recovery Security keys and table entries; timeouts; transaction failures and DTB; System failures and emergency restart; CICS start-up; CICS shutdown
Abends and Debugging Exceptional conditions; HANDLE CONDITION; IGNORE CONDITION; NO HANDLE; RESP; CICS trace facility; CEDF; Controlled abends
Programming Considerations Efficiency techniques; Storage considerations; Minimising data transmission; Using MDT's; Reading data in 'move' and 'locate' mode
VSAM Considerations CI size; CI/CA splits; Nonshared and local-shared resources; NSR versus LSR; Buffers; Strings; Share options; FCT entries; Non-CICS aspects


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Please see our further information page for more details or call +44(0)1206 240647 to book any of these courses