Q1) What are the six different types of argument values in COBOL that can be

placed in various options of a CICS command?

A1)

Data Value - EX (Literal 8 or 77 KEYLEN PIC S9( 4) COMP VALUE 8.)

Data Area - EX (01 RECORD-AREA.
05 FIELD1 PIC X(5). )

Pointer-Ref - EX (05 POINTER-I PIC S9( 8 ) COMP. )

Name - EX (05 FILE-NAME PIC X(5) VALUE ‘FILEA’. )
Label - Cobol paragraph name
HHMMSS - EX (77 TIMEVAL PIC S9(7) COMP3. )

Q2) Kindly specify the PIC clause for the following

Any BLL Cell, Data type of Length Option field, HHMMSS type of data fields

A2) Any BLL Cell - S9( 8 ) COMP

Data type of Length Option field - S9(4) COMP

HHMMSS type of data fields - S9(7) COMP3

Q3) Specify CICS transaction initiation process. (From the perspective of CICS
control programs and control tables.)

A3) TCP places data in TIOA and corresponding entry into TCT.

KCP acquires the transaction identifier from TIOA and verifies if it is present in PCT.

SCP acquires Storage in Task Control Area (TCA), in which KCP prepares control
data for the task.

KCP then loads the application programs mentioned in PCT by looking for it in PPT.

If resident - real storage memory location is not present in the PPT the control is
passed to PCP that loads the application programs from the physical storage location
address given in PPT. The control is then passed to the application program (LOAD
module).

Q4) List the sequence of steps used to achieve “Modification in Skip Sequential
Mode.”

A4)
I. READNEXT command

II. Issue the ENDBR command

III. Issue the READ command with UDTAE option.

IV. Manipulate the record (DELETE or REWRITE command)

V. Issue START command

VI. Issue two READNEXT commands (One for dummy skip)

VII. Go to step two.

Q5) Specify the requirements for Automatic Task Initiation. (Mention the
control table, it’s entries and the corresponding Procedure division CICS
command).

A5) DFHDCT TYPE=INTRA,

DESTID=MSGS,

TRANSID=MSW1,

TRIGLEV=1000

EXEC CICS WRITEQ TD

QUEUE(‘MSGS’),

FROM(DATA-AREA),

LENGTH(MSG_LEN)

END-EXEC.

Q6) What are the commands used to gain exclusive control over a resource (for
Ex a Temporary storage queue.)?

A6) EXEC CICS ENQ EXEC CICS DEQ

RESOURCE(QID) RESOURCE(QID)

END-EXEC END-EXEC

Q7) What is the EIB parameter and the CICS command used to implement
Pseudo-Conversational technique using single PCT - Single PPT entry?

A7) EIBCALEN - To check if COMMAREA has been passed in terurn command.

EXEC CICS RETURN

TRANSID(data-name)

COMMAREA(data-area)

LENGTH(data-value)

END-EXEC

Q8 ) Mention the 5 fields available in the symbolic map for every ‘NAMED’ field
in the DFHMDI macro? Give a brief description of these fields (Not exceeding a
line).

A8 ) FIELD+L - Return the length of text entered (or for dymanic cursor positioing)

FIELD+F - Returns X( 80) if data entered but erased.

FIELD+A - Used for attributes reading and setting

FIELD+I - Used for reading the text entered while receiving the map.

FIELD+O - Used for sending information on to the MAP.

Q9) What are the two ways of breaking a CPU bound process to allow other
tasks to gain access to CPU.

A9) EXEC CICS DELAY EXEC CICS DELAY

INTERVAL(hhmmss) TIME(hhmmss)

END-EXEC END-EXEC

POST and WAIT commands also achieve the same result.

Q10) How do you initiate another transaction? The transaction initiated should
be in a position to retrieve information pertaining to which transaction has
initiated it and from which terminal. (Code the required CICS commands)

A10) EXEC CICS START

INTERVAL(hhmmss)/TIME(hhmmss)
TRANSID(‘TRAN’)

TERMID(‘TRM1)

FROM(data-area)

LENGTH(data-value)

RTRANSID(EIBTRNID)

RTERMID(EIBTRMID)

END-EXEC

EXEC CICS RETRIEVE

INTO(data-area)

LENGTH(data-value)

RTRANSID(data-name)

RTERMID(data-name)

END-EXEC

Q11) Mention the option (along with argument type) used in a CICS command
to retrieve the response code after execution of the command.

A11) RESP( S9( 8 ) COM.)

Q12) What’s the CICS command used to access current date and time?

A12) ASKTIME.

Q13) Into what fields will the date and time values be moved after execution of
the above command?

A13) EIBDATE & EIBTIME.

Q14) How do you terminate an already issued DELAY command?

A14) EXEC CICS CANCEL

REQID(id)

END-EXEC

Q15) How do you dynamically set the CURSOR position to a specific field?

A15) MOVE -1 to FIELD+L field. Mention CURSOR option in the SEND command.

Q16) Which option of the PCT entry is used to specify the PF key to be pressed
for initiating a transaction?

A16) TASKREQ=PF1

Q17) Specify the CICS command used to read a VSAM record starting with
prefix “F”. Code all the relevant options.

A17) EXEC CICS READ

DATASET(‘FILENAME’)

INTO(data-area)

RIDFLD(data-area)

KEYLENGTH(1)

GENERIC

LENGTH(WK-LEN)

END-EXEC.

Q18 ) Mention the option used in the CICS READ command to gain accessibility
directly to the file I/O area. (Assume COBOL-II).

A18 ) SET(ADDRESS OF LINKAGE-AREA).

Q19) Which command is used to release a record on which exclusive control is

gained?

A19) EXEC CICS UNLOCK END-EXEC.

Q20) How do you establish a starting position in a browse operation?

A20) EXEC CICS STARTBR---------- END-EXEC.

Q21) What is the option specified in the read operation to gain multiple
concurrent operations on the same dataset?

A21) REQID(value).

Q22) What is the CICS command that gives the length of TWA area?

A22) EXEC CICS ASSIGN

TWALENG(data-value)

END-EXEC.

Q23) What are the attribute values of Skipper and Stopper fields?

A23) ASKIP, PROT.

Q24) How do you set the MDT option to ‘ON’ status, even if data is not entered?

A24) Mention FSET option in DFHMDF or set it dynamically in the program using
FIELD+A attribute field.

Q25) What option is specified in the SEND command to send only the unnamed
fields on to the screen?

A25) MAPONLY_______________.

Q26) Which CICS service transaction is used to gain accessibility to CICS

control tables? Mention the one that has the highest priority.

A26) CEDA

Q27) What is the most common way of building queue-id of a TSQ? (Name the
constituents of the Queue ID).

A27) TERMID+TRANSACTION-ID.

Q28 ) Into which table is the terminal id registered?

A28 ) TCT.
Q29) How and where is the TWA size set? .

A29) TWASIZE=300 in PCT table.

Q30) Which transient data queue supports ATI?

A30) INTRA-PARTITION Data queue.

Q31) Code the related portions of CICS/COBOL-I programs to gain

addressability to TWA area assigned to a particular task. Assume that the size of
TWA area is 300 bytes. What are the advantages if COBOL-II is used in the
place of COBOL? Code the above requirement in COBOL-II.

A31)

COBOL- II PROGRAM

LINKAGE SECTION.

01 PARMLIST.

02 FILLER PIC S9( 8 ) COMP.

02 TWA-PTR S(98 ) COMP.

01 TWA-DATA-LAYOUT.

02 DATA-AREA PIC X(300).

PROCEDURE DIVISION.

……….

EXEC CICS ADDRESS

TWA(TWA-PTR)

END-EXEC

SERVISE RELOAD TWA-DATA-LAYOUT.

COBOL- II PROGRAM
LINKAGE SECTION.

01 TWA-DATA-LAYOUT.

05 DATA-AREA PIC X(300).

PROCEDURE DIVISION.

……….

EXEC CICS ADDRESS

TWA(ADDRESS OF TWA-DATA-LAYOUT)

END-EXEC

………

Q32) Code a program meeting the following requirements.

‘EMPS’ is a transaction used to return information pertaining to an employee

when the “EMPID” is entered on the screen. The information pertaining to an
employee is present in a VSAM/KSDS dataset registered in FCT as
“EMPINFOR”. The map and the working storage section of the emp-info are
given for reference. If the employee id is found the information has to be sent to
the screen (Status field) with the message “Emp Id: XXX found.”. If the emp-id
key is not found then status field should array the message “Key not found.” and
the ‘EMP ID” field should be set to bright. If the Exit option is set to “Y” then
the task has to terminate. Use pseudo-conversation technique three (Single PCT
and PPT).

EMPLOYEE INFORMATION FORM

EMP ID : XXX

EMP NAME :
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

EMP DESIG : @@@@@ : @

DEPARTMENT : @@@@@@@@@@

SALARY : $$$$$$$
STATUS : @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

EXIT : X

X - Input Field

@ - Output field (Alphanumeric)

$ - Output field (Numeric)

Mapname - EMPFORM

Mapsetname - EMPFORM

Label given to various ‘named’ fields on the DFHMDF macro while defining the map
shown above. EMPID, EMPNAME, EMPDESIG, DEPART, , SALARY, STATUS
and EXITINP.

Structure of the VSAM/KSDS file.

Working-Storage Section.

01 EMP-IOAREA.

05 EMP-REC.

10 EMP-KEY PIC XXX.

10 EMP-NAME PIC X(32).

10 EMP- PIC X.

10 EMP-DEPT PIC X(10)

10 EMP-DESIG PIC X(5).

10 EMP-SAL PIC 9(7).

A32) COBOL-II PROGRAM.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
77 LENGTH-OF-AREA PIC S9(4) COMP.

77 WS-RCODE PIC S9( 8 ) COMP.

01 STATUS.

02 NORMAL.

05 FILLER PIC X( 8 ) VALUE ‘EMP ID: ‘.

05 EMP-ID PIC X(3).

05 FILLER PIC X(6) VALUE ‘FOUND’.

02 ABNORMAL REDEFINES NORMAL.

05 ABMSG PIC X(17).

01 EMP-IOAREA.

05 EMP-REC.

10 EMP-KEY PIC XXX.

10 EMP-NAME PIC X(32).

10 EMP- PIC X.

10 EMP-DEPT PIC X(10)

10 EMP-DESIG PIC X(5).

10 EMP-SAL PIC 9(7).

LINKAGE SECTION.

01 DFHCOMMAREA.

05 INPVAL PIC X(3).

PROCEDURE DIVISION.

………..

IF EIBCALEN=0
EXEC CICS SEND

MAP(‘EMPFORM’)

MAPSET(‘EMPFORM’)

ERASE

END-EXEC.

MOVE 3 TO LENGTH-OF-AREA

EXEC CICS RETURN

TRANSID(‘EMPS’)

COMMAREA(‘SEC’)

LENGTH(DATA-VALUE)

END-EXEC.

ELSE IF INPVAL = ’SEC’

EXEC CICS RECEIVE

MAP(‘EMPFORM’)

MAPSET(‘EMPFORM’)

END-EXEC.

EXEC CICS READ

DATASET(‘EMPINFOR’)

INTO(EMP-IOAREA)

RIDFLD(EMPIDI)

LENGTH(LENGTH-OF-AREA)

RESP(WS-RCODE)
END-EXEC.

IF WS-RCODE NOT = DFHRESP(NORMAL)

MOVE ‘KEY NOT FOUND’ TO ABMSG’

MOVE DFHBMBRY TO EMPIDA

ELSE

MOVE EMP-NAME TO EMPNAMEO

MOVE EMP- TO O

MOVE EMP-DESIG TO EMPDESIGO

MOVE EMP-SAL TO SALARY

MOVE EMP-DEPT TO DEPARTO

MOVE EMP-KEY TO EMP-ID

MOVE STATUS TO STATUSO.

EXEC CICS SEND

MAP(‘EMPFORM’)

MAPSET(‘EMPFORM’)

ERASE

END-EXEC.

MOVE 3 TO LENGTH-OF-AREA

EXEC CICS RETURN

TRANSID(‘EMPS’)

COMMAREA(‘SEC’)

LENGTH(LENGTH-OF-AREA)

END-EXEC.
EXEC CICS RETURN

END-EXEC.

ELSE IF (EXITINPI NOT = ‘Y’)

EXEC CICS RETURN

END-EXEC.

The following are most frequently asked questions (FAQS):

Q33) What does “Pseudo Conversational” mean?

A33) The programming technique in which the task will not wait for the end-user
replies on the terminal. Terminating the task every time the application needs a
response from the user and specifying the next transaction to be started when the end
user press any attention key (Enter, PF1 through PF24, PA1,PA2 and Clear) is
pseudo-conversational processing.

Q34) Explain the means of supporting pseudo conversation programming. (E.g.

Storing and restoring of states, control flow, error handling)

A34) when we send a map using SEND MAP command. Immediately we release the
program by using EXEC CICS RETURN command. In this command we mention the
TRANSACTION ID which is to be executed after receiving the map. In this
command we also specify the data that should be stored in COMMUNICATION
AREA for later use. When this command is executed the corresponding program is
released from the memory. After receiving the response from the terminal the
program is again loaded and this time the data which we stored in communication
area will be copied into the working storage section. And the map will be received
with RECEIVE MAP command.
The variable EIBCALEN in EIB holds the length of communication area. In
procedure division we checks the value of EIBCALEN If it is zero, we first send the
map followed by RETURN command. Otherwise, that is if EIBCALEN is not zero,
we know that this transaction is not running first time and we receive the map by
using RECEIVE MAP command.

Q35) What is the function of the CICS translator?

A35) The CICS translator converts the EXEC CICS commands into call statements
for a specific programming language. There are CICS translators for Assembler,
COBOL, and PL/1.
Q36) How can you start a CICS transaction other than by keying the
Transaction ID at the terminal?
A36) By coding an EXEC CICS START in the application program
1. By coding the trans id and a trigger level on the DCT table
2. By coding the trans id in the EXEC CICS RETURN command
3. By associating an attention key with the Program Control Table
4. By embedding the TRANSID in the first four positions of a screen sent to the
terminal.
5. By using the Program List Table

Q37) What is the purpose of the Program List Table?

A37) The Program List Table records the set of applications programs that will be
executed automatically at CICS start-up time.
Q38 ) What are the differences between and EXEC CICS XCTL and an EXEC
CICS START command?
A38 ) The XCTL command transfer control to another application (having the same
Transaction ID), while the START command initiates a new transaction ID (therefore
a new task number). The XCTL continues task on the same terminal. START can
initiate a task on another terminal.
Q39) What are the differences between an EXEC CICS XCTL and an EXEC
CICS LINK command.
A39) The XCTL command transfer control to an application program at the same
logical level (do not expect to control back), while the LINK command passes control
to an application program at the next logical level and expects control back.

Q40) What happens to resources supplied to a transaction when an XCTL

command is executed?

A40) With an XCTL, the working storage and the procedure division of the program
issuing the XCTL are released. The I/O areas, the GETMAIN areas, and the chained
Linkage Section areas (Commarea from a higher level) remain. All existing locks and
queues also remain in effect. With a LINK, however, program storage is also saved,
since the transaction expects to return and use it again.

Q41) What CICS command do you need to obtain the user logon-id?
A41) You must code EXEC CICS ASSIGN with the OPERID option.

Q42) What is a resident program?

A42) A program or map loaded into the CICS nucleus so that it is kept permanently in
main storage and not deleted when CICS goes “Short On Storage”.
Q43) What is EIB. How it can be used?
A43) CICS automatically provides some system-related information to each task in a
form of EXEC Interface Block (EIB), which is unique to the CICS command level.
We can use all the fields of EIB in our application programs right away.

Q44) What is some of the information available in the EIB area?

A44)

I. The cursor position in the map

II. Transaction ID

III. Terminal ID

IV. Task Number

V. Length of communication area

VI. Current date and time

VII. Attention identifier

Q45) What information can be obtained from the EIBRCODE?

A45) The EIBRCODE tells the application program if the last CICS command was
executed successfully and, if not, why not.

Q46) What is the effect of including the TRANSID in the EXEC CICS RETURN
command?

A46) The next time the end user presses an attention key, CICS will start the
transaction specified in the TRANSID option.

Q47) Explain how to handle exceptional conditions in CICS.

A47) An abnormal situation during execution of a CICS command is called an

exceptional condition".

There are various ways to handle these exception conditions:

1. Handle Condition Command: It is used to transfer control to the procedure label

specified if the exceptional condition specified occurs.

2. Ignore Condition Command: It causes no action to be taken if the condition

specified occurs in the program. That is control will be returned to the next instruction
following the command which encountered the exceptional condition.
3. No Handle Option: This option can be specified in any CICS command and it will
cause no action to be taken for any exceptional condition occurring during execution
of this command.

4. RESP Option: This option can be specified in any CICS command. If the RESP
option is specified in a command, CICS places a response code at a completion of the
command. The application program can check this code, then proceed to the next
processing.

Handle condition:

Invalid handling of CICS error condition within the program causing the looping.
Here is one example, most program have EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDTION
ERROR(label) or EXEC CICS HANDLE ABEND LABEL(label) to trap any error
condition or abend. This type of coding is usually acceptable if they handle the error /
abend correctly in their handling paragraph. However, the program often cause
another error or abend within the handling routine. In that case, looping or sos will
occur. I strong recommend that the following statement should be included in their
ERROR handling paragraph.

EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDTION ERROR END-EXEC. It means that from now
on, CICS will handle all the errors and will not go back to error handling routine .For
HANDLE ABEND, code EXEC CICS HANDLE ABEND CANCEL instead. Please
check the application program reference manual for further explanation of these two
commands. Besides, not only these two HANDLE will cause the program, other type
of error handle might cause loop too. So code the HANDLE command carefully. It is
a good program practice to deactivate the error handling by EXEC CICS HANDLE
CONDITION condition END-EXEC. Once you know that the program won't need it
anymore.

Q48 ) What is the function of the EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDITION

command?

A48 ) To specify the paragraph or program label to which control is to be passed if

the “handle condition” occurs.

Q49) How many conditions can you include in a single HANDLE CONDITION
command?

A49) No more than 16 in a single handle condition. If you need more, then you must
code another HANDLE CONDITION command.

Q50) What is the EXEC CICS HANDLE ABEND?

A50) It allows the establishing of an exit so cleanup processing can be done in the
event of abnormal task termination.

Q51) What is the difference between EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDTION and
an EXEC CICS IGNORE command?

A51) A HANDLE CONDITION command creates a “go-to” environment. An

IGNORE command does not create a go-to environment; instead, it gives control back
to the next sequential instruction following the command causing the condition. They
are opposites.

Q52) What happens when a CICS command contains the NOHANDLE option?

A52) No action is going to be taken for any exceptional conditional occurring during
the execution of this command. The abnormal condition that occurred will be ignored
even if an EXEC CICS HANDLE condition exist. It has the same effect as the EXEC
CICS IGNORE condition except that it will not cancel the previous HANDLE
CONDITION for any other command.

Q53) When a task suspends all the handle conditions via the PUSH command,
how does the task reactivate all the handle conditions?

A53) By coding an EXEC CICS POP HANDLE command.

Q54) Explain re-entrancy as applies to CICS.

A54) Reentrant program is a program which does not modify itself so that it can
reenter to itself and continue processing after an interruption by the operating system
which, during the interruption, executes other OS tasks including OS tasks of the
same program. It is also called a "reenterable" program or"serially reusable" program.

A quasi-reentrant program is a reentrant program under the CICS environment. That

is, the quasi-reentrant program is a CICS program which does not modify itself. That
way it can reenter to itself and continue processing after an interruption by CICS
which, during the interruption, executes other tasks including CICS tasks of the same
program. In order to maintain the quasi-reentrancy, a CICS application program must
follow the following convention:

Constants in Working Storage: The quasi-reentrant program defines only constants

in its ordinary data area (e.g. working Storage Section ). These constants will never be
modified and shared by the tasks.
Variable in Dynamic Working Storage: The quasi reentrant program acquires a
unique storage area ( called Dynamic Working Storage --DWS) dynamically for each
task by issuing the CICS macro equivalent GETMAIN. All variables will be placed in
this DWS for each task. All counters would have to be initialized after the DWS has
been acquired.

Restriction on Program Alteration: The program must not alter the program itself.
If it alters a CICS macro or command, it must restore the alteration before the
subsequent CICS macro or command.

Q55) What are the CICS commands available for program control?

A55) The following commands are available for the Program Control services:

1. LINK: To pass control to another program at the lower level, expecting to be

returned.

2. XCTL: To pass control to another program at the same level, not expecting to be
returned.

3. RETURN: To return to the next higher-level program or CICS.

4. LOAD: To load a program.

5. RELEASE: To release a program.

Q56) How is addressability achieved to the data outside programs working-

storage.?

A56) The Base Locator for Linkage ( BLL ) is an addressing convention used to
address storage outside the Working Storage Section of an application program. If
BLL is used for the input commands (e.g.: READ, RECEIVE), it will improve the
performance, since the program would be accessing directly the input buffer outside
of the program. In order to work as intended, the program must construct BLL based
on the following convention:

1). The parameter list must be defined by means of a 01 level data definition in the
Linkage Section as the first area definition to the Linkage Section, unless a
communication area is being passed to the program, in which case
DFHCOMMAREA must be defined first. The parameter list consists of a group of the
address pointers, each of which is defined as the full word binary field ( S9( 8 )
COMP ). This is called the BLL cells.

2). The parameter list is followed by a group of 01 level data definitions, which would
be the actual data areas. The first address pointer of the parameter list is set up by
CICS for addressing the parameter list itself. From the second address pointer onward,
there is a one-to-one correspondence between the address pointers of the parameter
list and 01 level data definitions.

3). VS COBOL II provides CICS application programs with a significant

improvements in the area of addressability through the special ADDRESS register.
Therefore, if an application program is written in VS COBOL II, the program is no
longer requires building the BLL cells in the Linkage Section.

Q57) Explain the various ways data can be passed between CICS programs.

A57) Data can be passed between CICS programs in three ways- COMMAREA,
TRASIENT DATA QUEUE &

TEMPORARY STORAGE QUEUE.

Data can be passed to a called program using the COMMAREA option of the LINK
or XCTL command in a calling program. The called program may alter the data
content of COMMAREA and the changes will be available to the calling program
after the RETURN command is issued in the called program. This implies that the
called program does not have to specify the COMMAREA option in the RETURN
command.

If the COMMAREA is used in the calling program, the area must be defined in the
Working Storage Section of the program (calling), whereas, in the called program, the
area must be defined as the first area in the Linkage Section, using reserved name
DFHCOMMAREA.

Q58 ) What is the difference between using the READ command with INTO
option and SET option?
A58 ) When we use INTO option with the READ command the data content of the
record will be moved into the specified field defined in the Working Storage Section
of the program. When we use SET option with the READ command , CICS sets the
address pointer to the address of the record in the file input / output area within CICS,
so that the application program can directly refer to the record without moving the
record content into the Working Storage area defined in the program. Therefore, the
SET option provides a better performance than the INTO option.

Q59) Can we define an alternate index on VSAM/RRDS ?

A59) No

Q60) What is the difference between the INTO and the SET option in the EXEC
CICS RECEIVE MAP command?
A60) The INTO option moves the information in the TIOA into the reserved specified
area, while the SET option simply returns the address of the TIOA to the specified
BLL cell or “address-of” a linkage-section.

Q61) How to establish dynamic cursor position on a map? How to get the cursor
position when we receive a map?
A61) We dynamically position a cursor through an application program using a
symbolic name of the symbolic map by placing -1 into the field length field ( i.e.,
fieldname + L) of the field where you wish to place the cursor. The SEND MAP
command to be issued must have the CURSOR option ( without value ). Also, the
mapset must be coded with MODE = INOUT in the DFHMSD macro. We get the
cursor position when we receive a map by checking EIBCPOSN, which is a halfword
( S9(4) COMP) binary field in EIB, and contains offset position (relatively to zero ) of
the cursor on the screen.

Q62) What is MDT?

A62) MDT ( Modified Data Tag ) is one bit of the attribute character. If it is off ( 0 ),
it indicates that this field has not been modified by the terminal operator. If it is on
( 1 ), it indicates that this field has been modified by the operator. Only when MDT is
on, will the data of the field be sent by the terminal hardware to the host computer
( i.e., to the application program, in end ). An effective use of MDT drastically
reduces the amount of data traffic in the communication line, thereby improving
performance significantly. Therefore, BMS maps and CICS application programs
should be developed based on careful considerations for MDT.

Q63) What are the three ways available for a program to position the cursor on
the screen?
A63)

I. Static positioning. Code the insert cursor (IC) in the DFHMDF BMS macro.

II. Relative positioning. Code the CURSOR option with a value relative to
zero(position 1,1 is zero) .

III. Symbolic positioning. Move high values or -1 to the field length in the symbolic
map(and code CURSOR on the SEND command).

Q64) Name three ways the Modified Data Tag can be set on?
A64) The Modified Data Tag can be set on:

1. When the user enters data into the field.

2. When the application program moves DFHBMFSE to the attribute character.

3. By defining it in the BMS macro definition.

Q65) What is a mapset?

A65) A mapset is a collection of BMS maps link-edited together.
Q66) What is the function of DFHMDF BMS macro?
A66) The DFHMDF macro defines fields, literal, and characteristics of a field.

Q67) Why is a TERM ID recommended in naming a TSQ?

A67) In order to avoid confusion and to maintain data security, a strict naming
convention for QID will be required in the installation. Moreover, for a terminal-
dependent task (e.g., pseudo-conversational task), the terminal id should be included
in QID in order to ensure the uniqueness of TSQ to the task.

Q68 ) Explain the basic difference between Intra partition TDQ and Extra
partition TDQ.
A68 )
INTRA PARTITION TD QUEUEs It is a group of sequential records which are
produced by the same and / or different transactions within a CICS region. These Qs
are stored in only one physical file ( VSAM ) in a CICS region, which is prepared by
the system programmer. Once a record is read from a queue, the record will be
logically removed from the queue; that is the record cannot be read again. EXTRA
PARTITION TD QUEUEs It is a group of sequential records which interfaces
between the transactions of the CICS region and the systems outside of CICS region.
Each of these TDQs is a separate physical file, and it may be on the disk, tape, printer
or plotter.

Q69) What are the differences between Temporary Storage Queue (TSQ) and
Transient Data Queue (TDQ).?
A69) Temporary Storage Queue names are dynamically defined in the application
program, while TDQs must first be defined in the DCT (Destination Control Table).
When a TDQ contains certain amount of records (Trigger level), a CICS transaction
can be started automatically. This does not happen when using a TSQ. TDQ(extra
partition) may be used by batch application; TSQ cannot be accessed in batch. The
Transient Data Queue is actually a QSAM file. You may update an existing item in a
TSQ. A record in a TDQ cannot be updated. Records in TSQ can be read randomly.
The TDQ can be read only sequentially. Records in Temporary Storage can be read
more than once, while records stored in Temporary Data Queues cannot. With TDQs
it is “one read” only.

Q70) What is the difference between getting the system time with EIBTIME and
ASKTIME command?
A70) The ASKTIME command is used to request the current date and time. Whereas,
the EIBTIME field have the value at the task initiation time.

Q71) What does the following transactions do?

A71) CEDF : CICS-supplied Execution Diagnostic Facility transaction. It provides
interactive program execution and debugging functions of a CICS programs.
CEMT : CICS-supplied Extended Master Terminal transaction. It displays or
manipulates CICS

control environment interactively.

CEBR : CICS-supplied Temporary Storage Browse transaction. It displays the content

of

Temporary Storage Queue ( TSQ ).

CECI : CICS-supplied Command Interpreter transaction. It verifies the syntax of a

CICS command and executes the command.

Q72) Explain floating maps with illustration.

A72) Maps which can position themselves relative to the previous maps on the screen
or page are known as the floating maps. For this you have to use special positional
operands to LINE and COLUMN parameters of the BMS macro definition. They are
SAME, NEXT. Actually this floating map concept is there only in Full BMS where as
it is not available in Min. or Standard BMS macros. RECEIVE MAP is not
recommended in the case of floating maps. Hence these maps are normally used to
send information such as selected records from a database to screen but not for data
entry. A mapset can contain more than one m ap in it, you may use all these maps to
build a screen. In that case there are two ways to send these maps on to the screen

i ) Use separate SEND MAP commands one for each map involved. or

ii) Use ACCUM operand along with SEND MAP command and while sending really
on to the

screen use SEND PAGE to display them at one shot. The second one is called
cumulative mapping scheme where you also can use floating maps.

Let's take a situation where you have to build a screen like this

HEADER MAP (no. of A gr. employs)

DETAIL MAP (employee list )

TRAILER MAP (Press a key to continue...)

Under such situations whatever the detail map needed that is to be displayed again
and again to display all the information one screenful at a time. In this floating map
concept helps.

Code the map like this

M1 DFHMDI ...... HEADER=YES,JUSTIFY=FIRST..................

M2 DFHMDI ...… ......................... LINE=NEXT....................

M3 DFHMDI ........TRAILER=YES,JUSTIFY=LAST...........................

Here M2 is detail map, which is coded as floating map. Procedure:

Every time using cumulative map technique send header (first) and followed by detail
map next into a page buffer once the page is full an overflow occurs by using CICS
HANDLE OVERFLOW command send first trailer map then header map ( This will
do two things a) it sends previous map on to the screen b) starts fresh page buffer ).
Repeated this until no more records to be retrieved. Here M2 is the one which holds
the record values read from the file.

Q73) What is the function of the Terminal Control Table(TCT)?

A73) The TCT defines the characteristics of each terminal with which CICS can
communicate.

Q74) What does it mean when EIBCALEN is equal to zeros?

A74) When the length of the communication area (EIBCALEN) is equal to zeros, it
means that no data was passed to the application.

Q75) How can the fact that EIBCALEN is equal to zeros be of use to an
application programmer?
A75) When working in a pseudo-conversational mode, EIBCALEN can be checked if
it is equal to zero. A programmer can use this condition as a way of determining first
time usage(of the program).

Q76) Which CICS system program is responsible for handling automatic task
initialization?
A76) The Transient Data Program(TDP).

Q77) In an on-line environment, how can you prevent more than one user from
accessing the same Transient Data Queue at the same time?
A77) By issuing an EXEC CICS ENQ against the resource. When processing is
completed, a DEQ should be executed.

Q78 ) When an application is invoked via the EXEC CICS START command
with the from option, how does the application gain access to the common area?
A78 ) An EXEC CICS RETRIEVE command will access the common area.

Q79) The DFHCOMMAREA is used to pass information from one application to

another. What are some other ways that this function can be accomplished?
A79) You can also pass information in the following ways.

- By using a temporary storage queue

- By using an intrapartition TDQ

- By using the Task Work Area

- By using TCTUA

- Through a file

Q80) How do you define Task Work Area?

A80) By defining it on the PCT (the Program Control Table)

Q81) What information do you get when an EXEC CICS STARTCODE is

issued?
A81) You will be able to determine if the application was started by (1) a transient
data trigger level(QD), (2) a START command (S,SD), (3) user (U) or terminal input
(TD), or (4) Distributed Program Link(D,DS).

Q82) Which CICS command must be issued by the application program in order
to gain access to the Common Work Area(CWA)?

A82) EXEC CICS ADDRESS with CWA option.

Q83) In which CICS table would you specify the length of the TASK WORK
AREA (TWA)?
A83) In the Program Control Table(PCT).

Q84) What is a deadlock?

A84) Deadlock (also known as a “deadly embrace”) occurs when a task is waiting for
a resource held by another task which, in turn, is waiting for a resources held by the
first task.

Q85) Explain the term Transaction routing?

A85) Transaction routing is a CICS mode of intercommunication which allows a
terminal connected to local CICS to execute another transaction owned by a remote
CICS.

Q86) Explain the term Function Request Shipping?

A86) Function request shipping is one of the CICS modes of intercommunication
which allows an application program in a local CICS to access resources owned by a
remote CICS.

Q87) Explain the term “MRO” (Multi Region Operation)?

A87) MRO is the mechanism by which different CICS address spaces with in the
same CPU can communicate and share resources.

Q88) What are different system tables used in CICS?

A88) PCT, FCT, TCT, DCT, PPT

Q89) What is multitasking and multithreading?

A89) Multitasking is the feature supported by the operating system to execute more
than one task simultaneously. Multithreading is the system environment where the
tasks are sharing the same programs load module under the multitasking environment.
It is a subset of multitasking since it concerns tasks which use the same program.

Q91) Name some of the common tables in CICS and their usage.
A91) PCT Program Control Table - defines each transaction, containing a list of valid
transaction identifiers (transid) where each transaction is paired with its matching
program; PPT Program Processing Table - contains a list of valid program names and
maps and whether a current version is in the CICS region or needs to be brought in as
a new copy;

FCT File Control Table - contains a list of files known to CICS, the dataset name and
status (closed/open, enabled/disabled);

TCT Terminal Control Table - a list of the terminals known to CICS.

Q92) Name some common CICS service programs and explain their usage?
A92) Terminal Control, File Control, Task Control, Storage Control, etc. Each CICS
services program controls the usage and status for its resource (file, terminal, etc)
within the CICS region.

Q93) What is meant by a CICS task?

A93) A CICS task exists from the time the operator presses the enter key until the
application program returns control to CICS.

Q94) What is meant by program reentrance?

A94) A program is considered reentrant if more than one task can execute the code
without interfering with the other tasks' execution.

Q95) What is the common systems area (CSA)?

A95) The common systems area is the major CICS control block that contains system
information, including pointers to most other CICS control blocks. The CSA points to
all members of STATIC storage.

Q96) What is the COMMAREA(communications area)?

A96) This is the area of main storage designed to let programs or tasks communicate
with one another, used in programs via

RETURN, XCTL and LINK commands.

Q97) What is the EIB (execute interface block)?

A97) The execute interface block lets the program communicate with the execute
interface program, which processes CICS commands. It contains terminal id, time of
day and response codes.

Q98) What is an MDT (Modified Data Tag) - it's meaning and use?
A98) The modified data tag is the last bit in the attribute byte for each screen field. It
indicates whether the corresponding field has been changed.

Q99) What is a transid and explain the system transid CEMT?

A99) Transid is a transaction identifier, a four character code used to invoke a CICS
task. CEMT is the master terminal transaction that lets you display and change the
status of resources - it is the primary CICS service transaction.

Q100) What is the common work area (CWA)?

A100) The common work area is a storage area that can be accessed by any task in a
CICS system.

Q101) How do you access storage outside your CICS program?

A101) In COBOL storage was accessed via BLL cells using the SET option of
ADDRESS commands. In COBOL II the special register, ADDRESS OF lets you
reference the address of any Linkage Section field.

Q102) How does COBOL II and CICS release 1.7 provide for exceptional
conditions and how does that differ from VS COBOL and earlier CICS releases?

A102) VS COBOL used the HANDLE CONDITION command to name routines to

pass program control when exceptional conditions were encountered. COBOL II and
CICS release 1.7 introduced the RESP option on many CICS commands.

Q103) What is the meaning and use of the EIBAID field?

A103) EIBAID is a key field in the execute interface block; it indicates which
attention key the user pressed to initiate the task.

Q104) How do you control cursor positioning?

A104) It's controlled by the CURSOR option of the SEND MAP command using a
direct (0 through 1919) or symbolic value.

Q105) What are attribute bytes and how and why are they modified?
A105) Attribute bytes define map field characteristics (brightness, protection, etc);
they are modified prior to issuing a SEND MAP command, eg. from normal to intense
to highlight an error field.
Q106) How do you invoke other programs? What are the pros and cons of each
method?
A106) There are three ways:

1) Use a COBOL II CALL statement to invoke a subprogram. This method is

transparent to CICS, which sees only the one load module.
2) An EXEC LINK is similar to a call; it invokes a separate CICS program and ends
with a RETURN to the invoking program. or
3) An EXEC XCTL which transfers control to another CICS program and does not
get control back.

Q107) What is BMS?

A107) BMS is Basic Map Support; it allows you to code assembler level programs to
define screens.

Q108) What is the difference between FSET and FRSET?

A108) FSET specifies that the modified data tag should be turned on before the map
is sent to the screen. FRSET turns off the attribute byte; it's used to transmit only
changed data from the terminal.

Q109) What is the difference between the enter key, the PF keys and the PA
keys?
A109) The enter and PF keys transmit data from the screen; the PA keys tell CICS
that a terminal action took place, but data is not transmitted.

Q110) Explain the difference among the EXEC LINK, EXEC XCTL and Cobol
II static call statements in CICS.
A110) COBOL II allows for static calls which are more efficient than the LINK
instruction which establishes a new run-unit.

Q111) Are sequential files supported by CICS?

A111) Yes, but not as part of the File Control Program. They are supported as extra
partition transient data files.

Q112) What option can be coded on the RETURN command to associate a

transaction identifier with the next terminal input?
A112) The TRANSID option.

Q113) What is an ASRA?

A113) An ASRA is the CICS interrupt code, the equivalent of an MVS abend code.

Q114) What is temporary storage?

A114) Temporary storage is either main or auxiliary storage thatallows the program to
save data between task invocations.

Q115) What is transient data?

A115) Transient data provides CICS programs with a simple method for sequential
processing, often used to produce output for 3270 printers.
Q116) What are the two types of transient data queues?
A116) They are intrapartition, which can only be accessed from within CICS and
extrapartition, which are typically used to collect data online, but process it in a batch
environment.

Q117) Where are transient data sets defined to CICS?

A117) They are defined in the destination control table (DCT).

Q118) Once a transient data queue is read, can it be reread?

A118) No, silly! That's why IBM calls it transient.

Q119) Name some commands used for CICS file browsing.

A119) STARTBR, READNEXT, READPREV, ENDBR and RESETBR.

Q120) What other file control processing commands are used for file updating?
A120) WRITE, REWRITE, DELETE and UNLOCK.

Q121) What is Journal Recovery and Dynamic Transaction Backout?

A121) Journal Recovery is recovery of changes made to a file during online
processing. If a file has I/O problems it is restored from a backup taken before online
processing began and the journalled changes are applied. Dynamic transaction
backout is the removal of partial changes made by a failed transaction.

Q122) What tables must be updated when adding a new transaction and
program?
A122) At a bare minimum the Program Control Table ( PCT) and Program Processing
Table (PPT) must be updated.

Q123) What is the meaning of the SYNCPOINT command?

A123) SYNCPOINT without the ROLLBACK option makes all updates to protected
resources permanent, with the ROLLBACK option it reverses all updates.

Q124) What do the terms locality of reference and working set mean?
A124) They refer to CICS efficiency techniques. Locality of reference requires that
the application program should consistently reference instructions and data within a
relatively small number of pages. The working set is the number of program pages
needed by a task.

Q125) What do the keywords MAPONLY and DATAONLY mean?

A125) MAPONLY is a SEND MAP operand that sends only fields with initial values
to the screen. DATAONLY is the SEND MAP operand that specifies only data from
the map area should be displayed.

Q126) What is the MASSINSERT option?

A126) MASSINSERT is a WRITE option that modifies normal VSAM split
processing, leaving free space after the inserted record, so subsequent records can be
inserted without splits. It is ended by an UNLOCK command.

Q127) What is a cursor in CICS sql processing?

A127) A cursor is a pointer that identifies one row in a sql results table as the current
row.

Q128) What are the DB2 steps required to migrate a CICS DB2 program from
source code to load module?
A128) A DB2 precompiler processes some SQL statements and converts others. It
creates a data base request module (DBRM) for the binding step. The bind process
uses the DBRM to create an application plan, which specifies the techniques DB2 will
use to process the embedded SQL statements. The link/edit step includes an interface
to the CICS/DB2 attachment facility.

Q129) Name some translator and compile options and explain their meaning?
A129) For translator SOURCE option prints the program listing, DEBUG enables
EDF and COBOL2 alerts the system to use the COBOL II compiler. For the compiler
XREF prints a sorted data cross reference and FDUMP prints a formatted dump if the
program abends.

Q130) What is the significance of RDO?

A130) RDO is Resource Definition Online. Since release 1.6 RDO allows resources
(terminals, programs, transactions and files) to be defined interactively while CICS is
running.

Q131) What is CECI?

A131) CECI is the command level interpreter transid that interactively executes CICS
commands. It is a rudimentary CICS command debugger which does not require
coding an entire program.

Q132) What is CEDF?

A132) CEDF is the execute diagnostic facility that can be used for debugging CICS
programs.

Q133) What is CEBR?

A133) CEBR lets you browse the contents of a specific temporary storage queue.

Q134) Name and explain some common CICS abend codes?

A134) Any AEI_ indicates an execute interface program problem - the abending
program encountered an exceptional condition that was not anticipated by the coding.
APCT - the program could not be found or is disabled. ASRA - most common CICS
abend, indicating a program check, identified by a one-byte code in the Program
Status Word in the dump. AKCP - the task was cancelled; it was suspended for a
period longer than the transaction's defined deadlock timeout period. AKCT - The
task was cancelled because it was waiting too long for terminal input.

Q135) What is a logical message in CICS?

A135) A logical message is a single unit of output created by SEND TEXT or SEND
MAP commands. BMS collects the separate output from each command and treats
them as one entity. This technique may be used to build CICS reports.

Q136) What are the CICS commands associated with temporary storage queue
processing?
A136) WRITEQ TS, READQ TS, and DELETEQ, whose meanings should be self-
explanatory.

Q137) What are the CICS commands associated with transient data queue
processing?
A137) WRITEQ TD, READQ TD, DELETEQ TD, ENQ and DEQ.

Q138) What is the meaning of the ENQ and DEQ commands?

A138) Neither command is exclusively a transient data command. The ENQ
command reserves any user defined resource for the specific task. For enqueued
transient data no other task will be able to write records to it for as long as it is
enqueued. DEQ removes the lock.

Q139) How do you delete Item 3 in a five-item TSQ?

A139) You can't--at least not directly. Options, none of them good, include:

I. adding a logical-delete flag to the contents of each item;

II. moving item 4 to 3 and 5 to 4 and initializing item 5, all thru rewrites; this is a
variant on 1;

III. creating a new 'copy' TSQ that excludes the unwanted item, killing the old TSQ
(deleteq ts), writing the new TSQ with the original name from the new TSQ, and then
deleting the 'copy' TSQ. This way, you will get an accurate report from NUMITEMS.

Q140) What CICS command would you use to read a VSAM KSDS sequentially
in ascending order?
A140) READNEXT reads the next record from a browse operation for any of the
three VSAM files.

Q141) How do you get data from a task that began with a START command?
A141) The RETRIEVE command is used to get data from a task that began with a
START command.

Q142) What is interval control and what are some of the CICS commands
associated with it?
A142) CICS interval control provides a variety of time-related features - common
commands are ASKTIME, FORMATTIME, START, RETRIEVE, and CANCEL.

Q143) What is task control and what are the CICS commands associated with it?

A143) Task control refers to the CICS functions that manage the execution of tasks.
Task control commands are SUSPEND, ENQ, and DEQ.

Q144) What is the CICS LOAD command?

A144) The LOAD command retrieves an object program from disk and loads it into
main storage - it's primarily used for a constant table that will be available system-
wide.

Q145) What is the ABEND command and when would you use it?
A145) The ABEND command forces a task to end abnormally. It creates a transaction
dump and invokes the dynamic transaction backout.

Q146) DB2 What is the difference between a package and a plan. How does one
bind 2 versions of a CICS transaction with the same module name in two
different CICS regions that share the same DB2 subsystem?
A146) Package and plan are usually used synonymously, as in this site. Both contain
optimized code for SQL statements - a package for a single program, module or
subroutine contained in the database request module (DBRM) library. A plan may
contain multiple packages and pointers to packages. The one CICS module would
then exist in a package that could be referenced in two different plans.

Q147) How to build up LU 6.2 communication?" and "what Pseudo-

conversational and real conversational transaction are and their differences."
A147) Pseudo-conversational transactions are almost always the preferred method. In
these mode CICS releases resources between responses to user input, i.e. the task is
ended awaiting the user response.

Q148) Why is it important not to execute a STOP RUN in CICS ?

A148) Stop run will come out from the CICS region.

Q149) Why must all CICS programs have a Linkage Section ?

A149) To pass parameters from appl. Program to CICS.
Q150) A mapset consists of three maps and 10 fields on each map . How many of
the following will be needed ?
A150) a) DFHMSD statements 1
b) DFHMDI statements 3
c) DFHMDF statements 30

Q151) How are programs reinitiated under CICS ?

A151) START COMMAND , RETURN COMMAND

Q152) Why doesn’t CICS use the Cobol Open and Close statements ?
A152) CICS AUTOMATICALLY OPENS AND CLOSES THE FILES THOSE ARE
PLASED IN FCT

Q153) What is the difference between a Symbolic map and Physical map ?
A153) SYMBOLIC MAP IS USED BY USER AND PHYSICAL MAP IS USED BY
SYSTEM

Q154) Can a program change protected field ?

A154) NO

Q155) How is the stopper byte different from an auto skip byte ?
A155) STOPPER command will stop after completing its field , whereas AUTOSKIP
command Will skip to next unprotected field after completing its field.

Q156) By which CICS defined field can you determine the position of the cursor
on the map ?
A156) ATTRIB FIELD

Q157) How will you place cursor on a field called ‘EMPNO’. This field belongs
to mapset ‘MAPEMPG’ and map ‘MAPEMPM’ and Symbolic map ‘Empid-
Rec’ ?

A157) BY INSERTING IC IN THE ATTRIB COMMAND

Q158) How do you place the cursor on a particular position on the screen? - GS
A158) Move -1 to the length attribute of the field and use the CURSOR option.

Define the field with IC in the BMS map.

Use CURSOR(n m)??

Q159) What are the two outputs created as a result of generation of a map? - GS
A159) The map copybook and the load module.

Q160) What is the difference between physical map and symbolic map? - GS
A160) The physical map is the load module and the symbolic map is the data
structure.

Q161) What is the attribute byte? - GS

A161) Defines the display/transmission of field. most cases is an output field from the
program.

Q162) How do you use extended attributes ?

A162) Define EXTATT=YES and the correct terminal type.

Q163) What are the 3 working storage fields used for every field on the map? -
GS
A163) Length, attribute and input/output field.

Q164) What is MDT? What are FSET, FRSET ?

A164) MDT: Bit in the attribute byte indicating modification of field on screen.
Happens on an input operation.

FSET: Sets MDT on to ensure field is transmitted. Happens on an output operation.

FRSET: Resets MDT. Until this happens, field continues to be sent.

Q165) What is the use of DSECT parameter in BMS?

A165) Is the parameter to generate a symbolic map.

Q166) Do you receive the attribute byte in the symbolic map?

A166) On EOF yes.

Q167) How do you make your BMS maps case sensitive?

A167) Use ASIS???

Q168) What is effect on RECEIVE MAP when PF key is pressed? PA key is

pressed?
A168) When PF key is pressed, Data transmission may happen. When PA key is
pressed, Data transmission will not happen.

Q169) What is the difference between a PF key & a PA key ?

A169) PF keys wake up the task and transmit modified data, PA keys only wake up
the task.

Q170) Name the macros used to define the following: MAP MAPSET FIELD
A170) DFHMSD DFHMDI DFHMDF

Q171) Can you use OCCURS in a BMS map? If you do, what are the issues
related with its use?
A171) Yes. cannot use group by clause???

Q172) Can you define multiple maps in a BMS mapset?

A172) Yes.

Q173) How is the storage determined in the symbolic map, if you have multiple
maps?
A173) Storage for maps redefine the first. This means largest map has to be the first.

Q174) What is the meaning of BMS length of field = 0?

A174) Data was not entered in the field

Q175) Can you simply check if length = 0 for checking if a field was modified?
A175) No, not if ERASE EOF was used.

Q176) What do you do if you do not want characters entered by the user to be
folded to uppercase ?
A176) Use ASIS option on RECEIVE.

Q177) What does the BUFFER option in RECEIVE mean ?

A177) Brings the entire datastream from the terminal buffer.

Q178) What are the steps you go through to a create a BMS executable?
A178) Assemble to create CSECT and Link

Q179) When you compile a CICS program, the (pre)compiler puts an extra
chunk of code. Where does it get included and that is it called? What is its
length? - GS
A179) DFHEIBLK, DFHCOMMAREA.

Q180) List all the CICS tables and explain their contents. - GS
A180) PPT SIT
PCT JCT

FCT SNT

DCT SRT

RCT TCT

Q181) I have written a CICS program. What tables should I setup to run this
program? - GS
A181) PPT, PCT, (FCT, DCT, RCT (if needed)).

Q182) In which table would you make an entry for a BMS map? - GS
A182) PPT

Q183) What is the content of the PPT entry? - GS

A183) Length, Source, Use count, Lang, Res count DFHRPL number

Q184) For a CICS-DB2 program, how is the plan referenced? - GS

A184) Uses a RCT table.

Q185) How is dynamic memory allocated within a CICS application program? -

GS
A185) Use a GETMAIN

Q186) What is the use of a TDQ, TSQ? - GS

A186) Temporary data stores.

Q187) How do you read from a TSQ? - GS

A187) Temp storage read command

Q188) If I create a TSQ from one transaction, can I read it from another
transaction? - GS
A188) Yes. As long as they run in the same region.

Q189) What are extra partition & intra partition TDQs?

A189) Extra partition TDQs are datasets used for communication b'n CICS and other
CICS/Batch regions. Intrapartition TDQs are queues for communication within regn.
Q190) What is trigger level in the context of TDQs?
A190) For intrapartition TDQs specify the # records at which ATI happens. not
applicable for extra partition TDQs.

Q191) How do you fire a batch job from a CICS transaction ?

A191) Define an extrapartition TDQ as an internal reader and write the JCL to it.
Terminate the JCL with /*EOF.

Q192) What is ATI? What kind of TDQ can be used?

A192) Automatic Task Initiation. Intra partition TDQ.

Q193) Do you require a table entry for a TSQ?

A193) If recovery is needed.

Q194) Is there any entry for TSQs in CICS tables?

A194) Yes in the DFHTST.

Q195) What is the use of DCT?

A195) Destination Control Table used to define TDQs

Q196) What is ENQ, DEQ ?

A196) Task control commands to make resources serially reusable.

Q197) Can you issue SQL COMMIT from a CICS program? - GS

A197) Yes.

Q198) What is the other way of terminating a transaction? - GS

A198) EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT. Assuming it is a LUW. This will not end the Xn.

Q199) What is an ASRA abend ?

A199) Any data exception problem SOC7, SOC4 etc.

Q200) What is an AEY9 abend ?

A200) DB2/IDMS not up.

Q201) What are the situations under which NEWCOPY is required ?

A201) When a program has been used in CICS atleast once and then changed and
recompiled.
Q202) What is EXEC CICS RETRIEVE ?
A202) Used by STARTed tasks to get the parameters passed to them.

Q203) Name some important fields in the EIB block ?

A203) EIBRESP, EIBCALEN, EIBRRCDE, EIBTASK, EIBDATE, EIBTIME

Q204) Can you use DYNAMIC calls in CICS ?

A204) Yes, the called routine must be defined in PPT and the calling program must
use CALL identifier..

Q205) How do you handle errors in CICS pgms ?

A205) Check EIBRESP after the call or use the HANDLE condition.

Q206) Suppose pgm A passes 30 bytes to pgm B thru commarea and pgm B has
defined its DFHCOMMAREA to be 50 bytes . Is there a problem ?
A206) Yes, if B tries to access bytes 31-50.

Q207) When an XCTL is done, does the tranid change ? Is a new task created ?
Does it cause an implicit SYNCPOINT to be issued ?
A207) No, No, Yes.

Q208) How do you execute a background CICS transaction ?

A208) With a START or ATI.

Q209) What is the difference between START and XCTL ?

A209) START is used to start a new task. It is a interval control command. XCTL is
used to pass control to a program within the same task. It is a program control
command.

Q210) What is the usage of language in the PPT entry?

A210) Language interface and call parameters???

Q211) Can you have CICS code in a copybook? If yes, what happens during
compilation?
A211) Yes. Needs to be preprocessed.

Q212) What is an AICA abend?

A212) Runaway Task.
Q213) How would you resolve an ASRA abend?
A213) In COBOL II start with CEBR, and get the offset/instruction.

Q214) I invoke a transaction from CICS. The program has a code: MOVE
DFHCOMMAREA TO WS-AREA. What happens to this transaction? What
happens to the other transactions?
A214) Junk may get moved in. Will cause Storage violation. ????

Q215) When you do a START, what will the value of EIBCALEN?

A215) Zero.

Q216) How are VSAM files Read in CICS pgms? - GS

A216) File Control Commands. Random, Sequential, forward and backward.

Q217) How will you access a VSAM file using an alternate index?
A217) Thru the path. Define path as an FCT and use normal File control commands.

Q218) How do you rollback data written to an ESDS file?

A218) Define the file as recoverable. in cases where records have been inserted into
the file, you may need to run a batch program to logically delete the inserted records.

Q219) I have done a START BROWSE on a VSAM dataset. Can I do another

START BROWSE without doing an END BROWSE?

A219) No.

Q220) Can you access QSAM (seq ) files from CICS ?

A220) No.

Q221) Can you access ESDS files from CICS ?

A221) Yes.

Q222) In the CICS command level all the re-entrancy issues are handled by the
System(True or False).
A222) True

Q223) What are the three BMS options ?

A223) Minimum, Standard, Full

Q224) What are the beginning and end points of an LUW called?
A224) Sync point

Q225) The DL/I database is a hierarchical database and the DL/I access method
isthe access method of the Information Management System (IMS)(True or
False)
A225) True

Q226) Before you can use a Temporary Storage Queue you must first define the
Queue name in the CICS Temporary Queue Table)( True or False).
A226) False

Q227) The process of writing its own type of journal records by the application
program, other than the automatic journalling provided by CICS is called
A227) Explicit Journalling

Q228) In order to display a formatted screen, a terminal must receive a series of

data stream called Native Mode Data Stream(True or False).
A228) True

Q229) Which is the CICS control program which governs the flow of control
among the CICS application programs?
A229) Program Control Program

Q230) What is the option of the DFHDCT macro which makes it possible to
recover logically deleted records from an Intrapartition TDQ?
A230) REUSE=YES

Q231) CICS and DB2 can exist in the same region under the Operating system
(True or False)
A231) True

Q232) What is the name of the facility provided by CICS to free the application
program form the problems caused by NMDS (device and format dependence)?
A232) Terminal Paging

Q233) What is the command which will delete a program LOADed into the main
storage using LOAD command?
A233) RELEASE

Q234) Which is the option of the HANDLE AID command that will pass control
to the specified label when any key is pressed?
A234) ANYKEY

Q235) What is the name of the mapset definition macro?

A235) DFHMSD

Q236) What is the access method used by DB2?

A236) SQL

Q237) What is the command that is used to add a new record to the file?
A237) READ with UPDATE followed by REWRITE

Q238) What will happen when the resource security check has failed on the
program which has been specified in the PROGRAM option of the LOAD
command?
A238) INVREQ

Q239) What is the command used to send a map to a terminal?

A239) SEND MAP

Q240) What is the command used to request notification when the specified time
has expired?
A240) POST

Q241) If DATAONLY option is specified in the SEND MAP command what will
happen?
A241) Only the symbolic map will be send

Q242) What will happen if the TDQ that you want to delete is not in the DCT?
A242) QIDERR will occur

Q243) The read of a record from an Intrapartition TDQ is not destructive(True

or False).
A243) True

Q244) An XCTL uses more CPU time than LINK (True or False)
A244) False

Q245) What is the primary function of the Sign-on Table?

A245) Register security information of all programs

Q246) Native Mode Data Stream (NMDS) is a mixture of Buffer Control

Characters(BCC) and text data (True or False).
A246) True

Q247) When there are 2 records with the same key specified in a DELETE
operation what will happen?
A247) DUPKEY condition will be set

Q248) The application programs that contain the SQL statements must be Pre-
compiled for converting the SQL statements into equivalent COBOL statements
(True or False)
A248) True

Q249) What are the databases that CICS can access?

A249) DB2, DL/I, ORACLE

Q250) The first step in the development of an application system is the

Requirement Analysis(True or False).
A250) True

Q251) CICS provides an interface through which the all the DL/I services can be
used under CICS(True or False).
A251) True

Q252) How to get the sign-on user-id from an application program?

A252) ASSIGN command with USERID option

Q253) What is a Logical Unit of Work (LUW)?

A253) A sequence of operations logically tied together

Q254) Translation Time is not reduced if the Pre-compilation is done first(True

or False).
A254) True

Q255) What is the general Command format of CICS ?

A255) EXEC CICS followed by the command

Q256) If you use the OPTIMIZE compiler option the size of the program can be
reduced by 5 to 10%(True or False).
A256) True

Q257) For multithreading an application program need not be re-entrant(True

or False).
A257) True

Q258) Before issuing an ASKTIME command what will be the values in the
EIBDATE and EIBTIME fields if the EIB?
A258) The date and time at the task initiation

Q259) What is the error condition that is set when the file specified in the NAME
option is not in the FCT?
A259) PGMIDERR

Q260) For protecting a transaction using the transaction security function, the
two things that must be done are:

1. in the SNT entry of the user who you which to allow to access a protected
transaction, specify SCTKEY=n

2. In the PCT entry of the transactions that you wish to protect specify the
TRANSEC=n. (True or False)A260) True

Q261) What are the various types of accesses that can be allowed by the
SERVREQ option of the DFHFCT?
A261) ADD,BROWSE,DELETE,READ,UPDATE

Q262) ‘CICS' system services provides an interface between CICS and the
operating system and carries out the functions like loading and releasing of
application programs, acquiring and freeing of storage , task scheduling, etc
(True or False).
A262) True

Q263) What are the parameters that you have to give when you are using the
CSSN transaction?
A263) None

Q264) What is the command that is used to delay the processing of a task for a
specified time interval or until a specified time?
A264) WAIT
Q265) NMDS is both device dependent and format dependent (True or False)
A265) True

Q266) Which is the EIB field that gives the date when a task was started?
A266) EIBDATE

Q267) Which is the AID that will not be identified in the ANYKEY option of the
HANDLE AID command?
A267) CLEAR

Q268) Reading a record from a TSQ will logically delete the record from the
Queue (True or False).
A268) True

Q269) What is the option that is used to erase all unprotected fields during a
SEND MAP operation?
A269) ERASEAUP

Q270) What is the CICS command that is used to receive the un-formatted data
from the terminal or logical unit of a communication network?
A270) RECEIVE

Q271) What is the command for reading a record form a TSQ?

A271) READQ TS, READQ

Q272) What will happen, if an out-of-range or negative value is specified in the

LENGTH option of the SEND command?
A272) The OUTRAGE condition will be set

Q273) Which is the control table where you specify all the transaction that are to
be started by CICS after CICS start-up?
A273) Sign-on table

Q274) A HANDLE CONDITION remains active until the end of the program or
until another HANDLE CONDITION command (True or False).
A274) True

Q275) In the conversational mode the system waits for the user to enter his
response and then press an attention key, and while waiting the resources are
held by the program or task. So conversational mode of programming is
inefficient (True or False)
A275) True

Q276) Which is the macro used for making an entry in the PPT
A276) DFHPPT

Q277) The goal of a recovery process is to Maintain the integrity of the data
processed by the system and to minimize the impact of a task or system failure
(True or False).
A277) True

Q278) What is the primary objective of CICS ?

A278) To provide the control and services of the DB/DC system

Q279) If no exception handling is provided in the program, what will happen ?

A279) CICS will take the default action specified for the condition

Q280) What is the CICS supplied transaction which performs syntax checking of
a CICS command?
A280) CEMT

Q281) What is the process of converting the CICS commands into the equivalent
host language statements called?
A281) Translation

Q282) What is the function of the LOAD command?

A282) To fetch a program, table or map to the main storage.

Q283) What is the CICS Command that is used for reading a record from the
TDQ?
A283) READQ

Q284) LENGERR, NOTAUTH and PGMIDERR are some of the common

exception conditions that can occur with LINK and XCTL (True or False).
A284) False

Q285) Which of the following are recoverable CICS resources?

A285) Data files and data bases, Intrapartition TDQs, Auxiliary TSQs
Q286) Which is the program which determines whether a transaction should be
restarted ?
A286) DTB

Q287) What is the command used for receiving a map from a terminal?
A287) RECEIVE MAP

Q288) The mode of achieving conversation with the user, by sending him the
message and while waiting for his response, freeing the system resources is called
A288) Pseudo-conversation

Q289) Which is the command used for terminating a browse operation?

A289) ENDBR

Q290) What is the primary function of the Processing Program Table (PPT)?
A290) To register all programs and maps

Q291) Sync points cannot be requested by the application programs(True or

False).
A291) False

Q292) Which is the command that is used to dump the main storage areas
related to a task?
A292) DUMP

Q293) What is the CICS command that is used to copy a screen image of a
terminal into another terminal?
A293) ISSUE COPY

Q294) What is the name of the log which contains the information needed to
restart the system, including the task sync point information and system activity
key points, snapshots of key system tables, etc.
A294) Dynamic Log

Q295) The EIB field which gives the last CICS command executed is
A295) EIBRCODE

Q296) The READ command with INTO option will read the record specified into
the data area specified (True or false).
A296) False

Q297) The attribute character is an visible 1 byte character which precedes a

screen field and determines the characteristics of the field (True or False).
A297) True

Q298) What is the function of the Terminal Control table?

A298) To register all CICS terminals

Q299) Which is the CICS control program that provides communication services
between user written application programs and terminals?
A299) Terminal Control Program

Q300) CICS Command level is

A300) Low level version of CICS macro level

Q301) TSQs can be written in the Main storage or Auxiliary storage (True or
False).
A301) True

Q302) what is difference between call and link ?

A302) In case of call , whenever you do changes to the called program you need to
compile the calling program also. In case of link , it is not needed .

Q303) what are the differences between DFHCOMMAREA and TSQ ?

A303) Both are used to save data among tasks. but 1. COMMAREA is private to that
transaction only . like every transaction has its own COMMAREA created by CICS as
soon as the transaction is initiated . however TSQ , if queue id is known can be
accessed by other transactions also 2. COMMAREA length is s9(4) comp i.e. 65k .
but TSQ can have any length.3. COMMAREA is available only during the transaction
is running. TSQ if created with auxiliary option resides in aux memory and available
even if main memory crashes.4.normally COMMAREA is used to transfer data from
one task to another while tsq is used widely within the task as a scratch pad.

Q304) What is Communication Area?

A304) Communication Area is used to pass data between the program or between the
task.

Q305) Which of the following statements correctly describe the syntax of CICS
command language?
A). If an EXEC CICS command must be continued onto a second line a hyphen
(-) must be coded in column 7 of the continued line.

B). If an EXEC CICS command must be continued onto a second line an 'X'
must be coded in column 72 of each line to be continued.

C). An EXEC CICS command CANNOT be coded within a COBOL IF

statement, between the IF command and the period (.) ending it.

D). The END-EXEC delimiter is optional and never needs to be placed at the end
of a CICS command.

E). The options specified within an EXEC CICS command can be in any order.

A305) E. The options specified within an EXEC CICS command can be in any order.
For example 'exec CICS Send From(Msg1) Length(30) End-Exec' can also be coded
'exec Cics Send Length(30) From(Msg1) End-Exec'

Q306) A CICS program ABENDS with an ASRA ABEND code. What is its
meaning?

A) A link was issued to a program whose name does not exist in the PPT
(Program Processing Table).

B) A program attempted to use a map that is not defined in the PCT (Program
Control Table).

C) A security violation has occurred. The operator is not defined with the proper
authority in the SNT (Sign-

on Table) to use a particular file

D) A program interrupt (0C0 or 0C1 or 0C2 or ...) has occurred in a CICS

program.

E) An I/O error has occurred when attempting to use a VSAM file from a CICS
program

A306) A program interrupt (0C0 or 0C1 or 0C2 or ...) has occurred in a CICS
program.

Q307) Which of the following commands, when issued by 2 different programs

running at the same time, will prevent simultaneous use of resource 'SINGLE'?

B) EXEC CICS PROTECT RESOURCE('SINGLE') LENGTH(6) END-EXEC.

C) EXEC CICS HOLD RESOURCE('SINGLE') LENGTH(6) END-EXEC.

D) EXEC CICS TASK SINGLE('SINGLE') LENGTH(6) END-EXEC.

E) EXEC CICS EXCLUSIVE RESOURCE('SINGLE') LENGTH(6) END-

EXEC.
A307) EXEC CICS EXCLUSIVE RESOURCE('SINGLE') LENGTH(6) END-EXEC

Q308) The map shown below is displayed with:

EXEC CICS SEND MAP('MAP1') MAPSET('MAP1S') MAPONLY END-

EXEC. After the screen is displayed, the operator enters 1 character, the letter
'X'. Where will the cursor now appear on the screen?

MAP1S DFHMSD

TYPE=MAP,MODE=INOUT,CTRL=(FREEKB,FRSET),LANG=COBOL, X
TIOAPFX=YESMAP1

DFHMDI SIZE=(24,80) DFHMDF

POS=(5,1),ATTRB=UNPROT,LENGTH=1FIELD2 DFHMDF

POS=(5,3),ATTRB=UNPROT,LENGTH=1FIELD3 DFHMDF

POS=(5,5),ATTRB=(UNPROT,IC),LENGTH=1FIELD4 DFHMDF

POS=(5,7),ATTRB=ASKIP,LENGTH=1FIELD5 DFHMDF

POS=(5,9),ATTRB=UNPROT,LENGTH=1,INITIAL='Z' DFHMDF

POS=(5,11),ATTRB=ASKIP,LENGTH=1 DFHMSD TYPE=FINAL

A) In the field with a POS=(5,1) B) In FIELD2. C) In FIELD3. D) In FIELD4. E)

In FIELD5.

A308) In FIELD5

Q309) How can you accomplish breakpoint in intertest?

A309) U-for unconditional breakpoint, C-for conditional breakpoint, and A-for
automatic breakpoint

Q310) How many ways are there for initiating a transaction? what are they?
A310) There are six ways in initiating a transaction.they are as follows.

1. embedding four character transid on the top left most corner of the screen.

2. making use of EXEC CICS START TRANSID ( )

3. making use of EXEC CICS RETURN TRANSID ( )

4. By defining the transid in DCT (destination control table) to enable ATI

(AUTOMATIC TASK INITIATION)

5. Making use of PLT ( program list table)

6. By associating four character transid in PCT (program control table)

Q311) Which type of TDQ is read destructive?

A311) Intrapartition TDQ is read destructive. extra partition tdq is not read
destructive.

Q312) The error code AEIV?

A312) This is the error code for length, if length of the source data is more than the
receiving field, This error will occur.

Q313) What is the size of commarea

A313) The default commarea size is 65k.

Q314) What is ASRAABEND in CICS?

A314) It occurs when program interruption takes place. e.g.: when alphanumeric
string moved to numeric data item OR when arithmetic calculations performed on
nonnumeric data item OR when an attempt made to read an occurrence of a table
beyond the defined occurrences.

Q315) What is a two Phase commit in CICS?

A315) This occurs when a programmer Issues a Exec CICS Syncpoint command. this
is called two phase because CICS will first commit changes to the resources under its
control like VSAM files. and the DB2 changes are committed. Usually CICS signals
Db2 to complete the next phase and release all the locks.

Q316) Difference between TSQ & TDQ

A316) TDQ is read destructive, TSQ is not. TSQ can be created dynamically, TDQ
cannot be created dynamically. TSQ is temporary in nature (i.e. it will be deleted
when the program finishes execution, unless it is made permanent by making a entry
in the Temporary Storage Table), TDQ is not.

Q317) What is ENQ in CICS?

A317) If any one want to restrict Trans-Id to single user, enter trans-id with ENQ. It
won't allow any one else to use the same trans-id.
Q318) In SYMBOLIC Cursor Positioning after moving -1 to the length field also
the cursor is not positioned in that particular field. Give reasons?
A318) You have to explicitly specify the word CURSOR between your EXEC CICS
and END-EXEC in the program.

Q319) What does EIB mean?

A319) The EIB is the EXECUTIVE INTERFACE BLOCK. It is not the EXECUTE
INTERFACE BLOCK. All TP monitors or transaction processors are know as
EXECUTIVEs as they carry out process on behalf of a program module. CICS and
DB2 are executives.

Q320) How many exceptional condition can be given in a HANDLE

CONDITION?
A320) Max. of 12 exceptional conditions can be given in a single HANDLE
CONDITION.

Q321) How do you access the records randomly in TSQ ?

A321) By specifying the ITEM option

Q322) What command do you issue to delete a record in a transient data queue ?
A322) READQ TD, the read is destructive.

Q323) What are different ways of initiating transaction in CICS ?

A323) We can initiate cics transaction
a) by giving transaction id
b) by giving cics start command
c) automatic task initiation.

Q324) What is the difference between LINK and XCTL ?

A324) The XCTL command passes control to another program, but the resources
requested by the first program may still be allocated. A task does not end until a
RETURN statement is executed. While in LINK command, program control resumes
its instruction following the LINK parameter. The disadvantage of LINK is that it
requires that both the calling program and the called program remain in main memory
even though both are no longer needed.

Q325) What is the difference between CICS Program Control Table (PCT) and
CICS Processing Program Table (PPT) ?
A325) PCT contains a list of valid transaction ID. Each transaction ID is paired with
the name of the program ,CICS will load and execute when the transaction is invoked.
On the other hand, PPT indicates each program's location which pertains to a storage
address if the program has already been loaded or a disk location if the program hasn't
been loaded. PPT will also be used to determine whether it will load a new copy of
the program when the transaction is invoked.

Q326) What are the 3 common ways to create maps?

A326) The first way is to code a physical map and then code a matching symbolic
map in your COBOL program. The second way to create a physical map along with a
matching symbolic map is to code only the physical map using the &SYSPARM
option, CICS will automatically create a member in a COPY library. And the third
way is to use a map generator such as SDF (Screen Definition Facility)

Q327) What is Quasi-reentrancy?

A327) There are times when many users are concurrently using the same program,
this is what we call MultiThreading. For example, 50 users are using program A,
CICS will provide 50 Working storage for that program but one Procedure Division.
And this technique is known as quasi-reentrancy

Q328) What is the difference between a physical BMS mapset and a logical BMS
mapset?
A328) The physical mapset is a load module used to map the data to the screen at
execution time. The symbolic map is the actual copybook member used in the
program to reference the input and output fields on the screen.

Q329) How To Set MDT(Modified Data Tag) Thru Application Program?

(Dynamically)?
A329) You have to move the following macro DFHBMFSE to the Attribute field of
that particular Variable.

Q330) What CICS facilities can you use to save data between the transactions?
A330) COMMONAREA, TSQ & TDQ.

Q331) How would you release control of the record in a READ for UPDATE?
A331) By issuing a REWRITE,DELETE, or UNLOCK command or by ending the
task.

Q332) What is the difference between a RETURN with TRANSID and XCTL ?
For example prog. A is issuing REUTRN with TRANSID to prog B. Prog A. is
issuing XCTL to prog B?
A332) In RETURN with TRANSID the control goes to the CICS region and the user
have to transfer the control to prog. B by pressing any of the AID KEYS.In XCTL the
control is directly transfer to prog. B.

Q333) What will be the length of the eibcalen ,if the transaction is used to cics
first time?
A333) The length will be 0(zero).
Q334) What is DFHEIBLK?
A334) DFHEIBLK is Execute Interface Block. It is placed in the linkage section
automatically by CICS translator program. It must be the first entry in linkage section.
CICS places values prior to giving control to the program and we can find almost any
information about our transaction.

Q335) What is the difference between the XCTL and LINK commands?
A335) The LINK command anticipates return of control to the calling program, the
XCTL command does not. Return to the calling program will be the result of the
CICS RETURN command, specifying TRANSID(name of the calling program).

Q336) What CICS command would you use to read a VSAM KSDS sequentially
in ascending order?
A336) First issue a STARTBR(start browse), which will position the browse at the
desired record. Retrieve records by using subsequent READNEXT commands.
Indicate the end of sequential processing with the ENDBR command. If the generic
key is specified in the STARTBR command positioning in the file will be before the
first record satisfying the generic key.For reading in descending order use the
READPREV instead of READNEXT.

Q337) What is the difference between pseudo-conversational and

conversational?
A337) Pseudo-conversational will start a new task for each input. By coding a CICS
RETURN command specifying ‘TRANSID(itself). Conversational will have an active
task during the duration of the data entry.

Q338) What is the COMMAREA(communications area)?

A338) An area used to transfer data between different programs or between
subsequent executions of the same program. Needs to be defined in the Linkage
Section.

What is MDT? What are FSET, FRSET?

Modified Data Tag Bit in the attribute byte indicating modification of field on screen
Happens on an input operation. FSET Sets MDT on to ensure field is transmitted
Happens on an output operation FRSET Resets MDT Until this happens, field
continues to be sent

How can you start a CICS transaction other than by keying the Transaction ID at the
terminal?
By coding an EXEC CICS START in the application program by coding the trans id
and a trigger level on the DCT table By coding the trans id in the EXEC CICS
RETURN command By associating an attention key with the Program Control Table
By embedding the TRANSID in the first four positions of a screen sent to the
terminal. By using the Program List Table
What is transient data?
Transient data provides CICS programs with a simple method for sequential
processing, often used to produce output for 3270 printers.

Where are transient data sets defined to CICS?

They are defined in the destination control table (DCT).

I have done a START BROWSE on a VSAM Data Set Can I do another START
BROWSE without doing an END BROWSE?
NO. If you want to reposition to next level, you can issue a RESETBR command

Name three ways the Modified Data Tag can be set on?

The Modified Data Tag can be set on:

1. when the user enters data into the field.
2. When the application program moves DFHBMFSE to the attribute character.
3. By defining it in the BMS macro definition.

What is the EIB (execute interface block)

The execute interface block lets the program communicate with the execute interface
program, which processes CICS commands. It contains terminal id, time of day and
response codes.

What are the differences between Temporary Storage Queue (TSQ) and Transient
Data Queue (TDQ).?
Temporary Storage Queue names are dynamically defined in the application program,
while TDQs must first be defined in the DCT (Destination Control Table). When a
TDQ contains certain amount of records (Trigger level), a CICS transaction can be
started automatically. This does not happen when using a TSQ. TDQ(extra partition)
may be used by batch application; TSQ cannot be accessed in batch. The Transient
Data Queue is actually a QSAM file. You may update an existing item in a TSQ. A
record in a TDQ cannot be updated. Records in TSQ can be read randomly. The TDQ
can be read only sequentially. Records in Temporary Storage can be read more than
once, while records stored in Temporary Data Queues cannot. With TDQs it is?one
read? only.

What information can be obtained from the EIBRCODE?

The EIBRCODE tells the application program if the last CICS command was
executed successfully and, if not, why not.

What does the CEDF, CEMT, CEBR, CECI transactions do?

CEDF: CICS-supplied Execution Diagnostic Facility transaction. It provides
interactive program execution and debugging functions of a CICS programs.
CEMT: CICS-supplied Extended Master Terminal transaction. It displays or
manipulates CICS control environment interactively.
CEBR: CICS-supplied Temporary Storage Browse transaction. It displays the content
of Temporary Storage Queue (TSQ ).
CECI: CICS-supplied Command Interpreter transaction. It verifies the syntax of a
CICS command and executes the command.

WHAT IS DFHEIBLK?
DFHEIBLK is Execute Interface Block. It is placed in the linkage section
automatically by CICS translator program. It must be the first entry in linkage section.
CICS places values prior to giving control to the program and we can find almost any
information about our transaction.

What is the meaning and use of the EIBAID field?

EIBAID is a key field in the execute interface block; it indicates which attention key
the user pressed to initiate the task.

What are the Cursor Positioning techniques in CICS?

Static Cursor Positioning: When defining the map field DFHMDF macro in the
attribute parameter IC is coded, the cursor will be positioned in that field. This
method of cursor positioning is called static cursor positioning Relative Positioning:
Code the CURSOR option with a value relative to zero Symbolic Positioning: Move
high values or ?1 to the field length in the symbolic map and code CURSOR on the
SEND command.

What are the differences between DFHCOMMAREA and TSQ ?

Both are used to save data among tasks. But
1. COMMAREA is private to that transaction only. Like every transaction has its own
COMMAREA created by CICS as soon as the transaction is initiated . however TSQ,
if queue id is known can be accessed by other transactions also.
2. COMMAREA length is S9(4) comp i.e. 65k . but TSQ can have any length.
3. COMMAREA is available only during the transaction is running. TSQ if created
with auxiliary option resides in aux memory and available even if main memory
crashes.
4. Normally COMMAREA is used to transfer data from one task to another while
TSQ is used widely within the task as a scratch pad.

How many ways can we initiate a CICS Transaction? What are they?
A. Keying in the Transaction-id at the terminal
B. By coding an EXEC CICS START in the application program
C. By coding the transaction id and trigger level in the DCT (Automatic Task
Initiation)
D. By coding the transaction id in the EXEC CICS return command
E. By associating the attention key with the PCT
F. By embedding the transaction id in the first four positions of a screen sent to the
terminal
G. By using the Program List Table.
What is MDT? How it is related FSEAT & FRESET? What is the meaning of MDT
on?
The last bit in the attribute byte , the MDT(Modified data Tag), indicates whether the
user has modified the data in the field. to save transmission time , the terminal sends a
field to the CICS program only if its MDT is on. unmodified fields are not
transmitted.

HOW TO SET/RESET MDT

There r three ways of setting and resetting MDT, as follows:
1- When the terminal user modifies a field on a screen, MDT 'LL be set "1" (ON)
automatically by the terminal hardware.
2-if CNTL=FRSET is specified in the DFHMSD OR DFHMDI macro , when the
mapset or the map is sent to the terminal , MDT will be reset to "0" ( OFF ie not
modified) for all fields of the mapset or the map , respectively.
3- further , if FSET is specified in the ATTRB parameter of the DFHMDF macro for
a field , when the map is sent to the terminal , MDT will be set to "1" ( on , i.e.
modified) for the field , regardless of whether the field has been modified by the
terminal user.

the following technique should be used:

. code CNTL=FRSET in DFHMSD or DFHMDI.
. CODE ATTRB=(FSET,..) IN all DFHMDF macros for the fields , from which the
application program expects to receive data , regardless of whether they r input fields
or output fields .

Name three ways the Modified Data Tag can be set on?
1. when user enter data in the field
2. Setting ATTRB= FSET in mapset for the field
3. move the macro DFHBMFSE to the attribute field of that particular variable.
(dyanamically)

I have a VSAM file and there are two CICS pgms A and B both intends to update the
file. How to code the program so that it does not under go a dead lock situation.

RLS is a VSAM function , provide by DFHSMS , that enables data to be shared with
full updates capability, between many applications running in many CICS programs.
With RLS CICS share VSAM data sets can reside in multiple MVS images within a
parallel sysplex, RLS also provide the benefits when data sets being shared between
CICS regions and batch jobs. also provide different level of READ integrity and
update with Browse.

So if multiple applications use same VSAM file then better option to use VSAM RLS.

Second we can achieve by using SUSPEND option, it allow the application programs
to control the action if the records to be accessed in unavailable .
The DFHCOMMAREA is used to pass information from one application to another.
What are some other ways?
1) By using TSQ
2) By using an intrapartition TDQ
3) By using TWA(Task work area)
4) By using TCTUA
5) Through a file

The COMMAREA

The use of the COMMAREA option on the RETURN command is the principal
example of a safe programming technique that you can use to pass data between
successive transactions in a CICS® pseudoconversational transaction. CICS treats the
COMMAREA as a special form of user storage, even though it is CICS that issues the
GETMAIN and FREEMAIN requests for the storage, and not the application
program.

CICS ensures that the contents of the COMMAREA specified on a RETURN

command are always made available to the first program in the next transaction. This
is true even when the sending and receiving transactions execute in different target
regions. In a pseudoconversation, regardless of the target region to which a dynamic
routing program chooses to route the next transaction, CICS ensures the
COMMAREA specified on the previous RETURN command is made available in the
target region. This is illustrated in Figure 54.

Some general characteristics of a COMMAREA are:

 Processor overhead is low.

 It is not recoverable.
 The length of a COMMAREA on a RETURN command can vary from
transaction to transaction, up to a theoretical upper limit of 32 763 bytes.
(However to be safe, you should not exceed 24KB (1KB = 1024 bytes), as
recommended in the Application Programming Reference manual, because of
a number of factors that can reduce the limit from the theoretical maximum.)
 CICS holds a COMMAREA in CICS main storage until the terminal user
responds with the next transaction. This may be an important consideration if
you are using large COMMAREAs, because the number of COMMAREAs
held by CICS relates to terminal usage and not to the maximum number of
tasks in a region at any one time.
 A COMMAREA is available only to the first program in the next transaction,
unless that program explicitly passes the data to another program or a
succeeding transaction.
Figure 54. The use of a COMMAREA by a pseudoconversation in a dynamic
transaction routing environment
The COMMAREA used in a pseudoconversational transaction, as shown in Figure
54, can be passed from transaction to transaction across a CICSplex, and, provided the
COMMAREA contains only data and not addresses of storage areas, no inter-
transaction affinity is created.

The TCTUA

The TCTUA is an optional extension to the terminal control table entry (TCTTE),
each entry specifying whether the extension is present, and its length. You specify
that you want a TCTUA associated with a terminal by defining its length on the
USERAREALEN parameter of a TYPETERM resource definition. This means that
the TCTUAs are of fixed length for all the terminals created using the same
TYPETERM definition.

A terminal control table user area (TCTUA) is safe to use in a dynamic transaction
routing environment as a means of passing data between successive transactions in a
pseudoconversational transaction. Like the COMMAREA, the TCTUA is always
accessible to transactions initiated at a user terminal, even when the transactions in a
pseudoconversation are routed to different target regions. This is illustrated in Figure
55. Some other general characteristics of TCTUAs are:

 Minimal processor overhead (only one CICS command is needed to obtain the
address).
 It is not recoverable.
 The length is fixed for the group of terminals associated with a given
TYPETERM definition. It is suitable only for small amounts of data, the
maximum size allowed being 255 bytes.
 If the terminal is autoinstalled, the TCTUA lasts as long as the TCTTE, the
retention of which is determined by the AILDELAY system initialization
parameter. The TCTTE, and therefore any associated TCTUA, is deleted when
 the AILDELAY interval expires after a session between CICS and a terminal
is ended.

If the terminal is defined to CICS by an explicit terminal definition, the

TCTTE and its associated TCTUA are created when the terminal is installed
and remain until the next initial or cold start of CICS.

Note that the TCTUA is available to a dynamic routing environment in the routing
region as well as application programs in the target region. It can be used store
information relating to the dynamic routing of a transaction. For example, you can use
the TCTUA to store the name of the selected target region to which a transaction is
routed.

Figure 55. The use of a TCTUA by a pseudoconversation in a dynamic routing

environment

Using the TCTUA in an unsafe way

The EXEC CICS ADDRESS TCTUA(ptr-ref) provides direct addressability to the

TCTUA, and this is how each task requiring access to a TCTUA should obtain the
TCTUA address. If tasks attempt to pass the address of their TCTUAs in some other
way, such as in a temporary storage queue, or to use the TCTUA itself to pass
addresses of other storage areas, the TCTUA ceases to provide a safe programming
technique for use in a dynamic transaction routing environment.
It is also possible for a task to obtain the TCTUA of a principal facility other than its
own, by issuing an INQUIRE TERMINAL command that names the terminal
associated with another task (the INQUIRE TERMINAL command returns the
TCTUA address of the specified terminal). Using the TCTUA address of a terminal
other than a task’s own principal facility is another example an unsafe use of the
TCTUA facility. Depending on the circumstances, particularly in a dynamic routing
environment , the TCTUA of a terminal that is not the inquiring task’s principal
facility could be deleted after the address has been obtained. For example, in an target
region, an INQUIRE TERMINAL command could return the TCTUA address
associated with a surrogate terminal that is running a dynamically routed transaction.
If the next transaction from the terminal is routed to a different target region, the
TCTUA address ceases to be valid.

Using ENQ and DEQ commands with ENQMODEL resource definitions

The ENQ and DEQ commands are used to serialize access to a shared resource. In
earlier releases of CICS, these commands were limited to the scope of CICS tasks
running in the same region, and could not be used to serialize access to a resource
shared by tasks in different regions. Now, provided that the ENQs and DEQs are
supported by appropriate ENQMODEL resource definitions (see the CICS Resource
Definition Guide for a description of ENQMODELs) they can have sysplex-wide
scope.

This is primarily of interest to the system programmer who will determine transaction
routing decisions, but application programmers should be aware of the advantages
now available.

Overview of sysplex enqueue and dequeue

Changes to the CICS enqueue/dequeue function extend the CICS application

programming interface to provide an enqueue mechanism that serializes access to a
named resource across a specified set of CICS regions operating within a sysplex.
This applies equally to a CICSplex within a single MVS™ image and to a CICSplex
that resides in more than one MVS. (Note that sysplex-wide enqueue is supported
only for a resource, and not for an enqueue on an address.)

Local enqueues within a single CICS region are managed within the CICS address
space. Sysplex-wide enqueues that affect more than one CICS region are managed by
Global Resource Services (GRS). The main points of the changes to the CICS
enqueue/dequeue mechanism are as follows:

 Sysplex enqueue and dequeue expands the scope of an EXEC CICS ENQ|
DEQ command from region to sysplex, by introducing a new CICS resource
definition type, ENQMODEL, to define resource names that are to be sysplex-
wide.
 ENQSCOPE, an attribute of the ENQMODEL resource definition, defines the
set of regions that share the same enqueue scope.
 When an EXEC CICS ENQ (or DEQ) command is issued for a resource
whose name matches that of an installed ENQMODEL resource definition,
 CICS checks the value of the ENQSCOPE attribute to determine whether the
scope is local or sysplex-wide, as follows:
o If the ENQSCOPE attribute is left blank (the default value), CICS
treats the ENQ|DEQ as local to the issuing CICS region.
o If the ENQSCOPE is non-blank, CICS treats the ENQ|DEQ as
sysplex-wide, and passes a queue name and the resource name to GRS
to manage the enqueue. The resource name is as specified on the
EXEC CICS ENQ|DEQ command, and the queue name is made up by
prefixing the 4-character ENQSCOPE with the letters DFHE.
 The CICS regions that need to use sysplex-wide enqueue/dequeue function
must all have the required ENQMODELs defined and installed.

The recommended way to ensure this is for the CICS regions to share a CSD,
and for the initialization group lists to include the same ENQMODEL groups.

Existing applications can use sysplex enqueues simply by defining appropriate

ENQMODELs, without any change to the application programs.

Benefits

Sysplex enqueue provides the following benefits:

 Eliminates one of the most common causes of inter-transaction affinity.

 Enables better exploitation of a parallel sysplex providing better
price/performance, capacity, and availability.
 Reduces the need for inter-transaction affinity rules in dynamic and distributed
routing programs thereby lowering the systems management cost of exploiting
parallel sysplex.
 Enables serialization of concurrent updates to shared temporary storage
queues, performed by multiple CICS tasks across the sysplex.
 Makes it possible to prevent interleaving of records written by concurrent
tasks in different CICS regions to a remote transient data queue.
 Allows the single-threading and synchronization of tasks across the sysplex. It
is not designed for the locking of recoverable resources.

BTS containers

A container is owned by a BTS activity. Containers cannot be used outside of an

activity; for more information, see the CICS Business Transaction Services manual .
A container may be used to pass data between BTS activities or between different
activations of the same activity. An activity uses GET and PUT container to update
the container's contents. CICS ensures that the appropriate containers are available to
an activity by saving all the information (including containers) associated with a BTS
activity in an RLS-enabled VSAM file. For this reason, note that a BTS environment
cannot extend outside a sysplex (see CICS Business Transaction Services), but you
can use dynamic routing within a sysplex passing data in containers.

Some general characteristics of containers are:

 An activity may own any number of containers; you are not limited to one.
  There is no size restriction.
 They are recoverable.
 They exist in main storage only while the associated activity is executing.
Otherwise they are held on disk. Therefore, you do not need to be overly
concerned with their storage requirements, unlike terminal COMMAREAs.

What is the use of CSA, CWA, TCTUA, TWA ?

When your COBOL (CICS) program is going to be executed is a particular CICS

region, then a area is being assigned for your program. To link that area with your
program what you do is take the address of that area and it is being stored in one of
the variable defined in terminal user entry table which will be used by your terminal
keep track of the area in CICS.

To attain these we use following commands.

EXEC CICS ADDRESS

CSA(ADDRESS OF CICS-CSA)
END-EXEC.

EXEC CICS ADDRESS

TCTUA(ADDRESS OF CICS-TUE)
END-EXEC.

CWA is an area in CICS that is available across all tasks within that CICS transaction.
Normally, if CWA is used by your shop there would be a program in the PLT that
gets executed when the region comes up to populate these values. If CWA is used, if
good programming standards are followed, there should be a copybook already
defined showing the layout of the CWA. CWA is not terminal/task specific. CWA is
used for passing/accessing information across multiple tasks and multiple terminals.

TCTUA is an area that is allocated for each terminal. TCTUA is used to pass data
across multiple tasks within the same terminal. When a terminal is defined to CICS,
the TCTUA size is also defined. Would be worth getting in touch with your CICS
support personal to find out the size of your TCTUA. Another method of passing such
information is use of TSQs where the first four characters for the TSQ name is
EIBTRMID and the last four characters are EIBTRNID.

And then there is TWA (Task Work Area) that is used to pass data across multiple
programs within a single CICS task. Another method of passing data within a single
task is COMMAREA. The size of the TWA is defined when the transaction is defined
in the PCT.

C SA is an area that is exclusively used by CICS. If you look at the address of CSA
and CWA, you would see that the CWA immediately follows the CSA. Similarly
there is TSA before a TWA.