Mainframe Training : CICS COBOL Programming

CICS COBOL Programming

Mainframe Training Overview

CICS Command Level Programming provides an understanding of the CICS system, application environment and typical applications. The structure of CICS pseudo-conversational application programs are discussed and reviewed in detail.

Basic Mapping Support (BMS) is used to develop screen layouts (maps). These maps, used in the class programming exercises, are the basis for understanding the CICS terminal interface.

A model program is used to develop class programs. The major CICS commands and features are used in class exercises.

Programming access will be use the CICS Command Level Interference of COBOL.

The course consists of a series of lectures, discussions, class exercises, and with hands-on programming workshop problems.

Learning Objectives

As a result of the class, the attendee will be able to -

Write, compile, walk-thru, and execute CICS programs
Demonstrate the use of major CICS commands
Develop user screens utilizing Basic Mapping Support (BMS)
Assemble, test, and debug BMS maps
Access data in a CICS program from a VSAM file, a DB2 table, a TD queue, a TS queue
Compile, debug, and execute CICS programs

Mainframe Training Audience

CICS Command Level Programming is intended for programmers who must understand the flow of CICS and write and debug CICS COBOL application programs.

Mainframe Training Prerequisites

Six months of experience with TSO/ISPF, COBOL programming and JCL is required.

Mainframe Training Course duration

5 days

Mainframe Training Course outline

Day 1

1. CICS concepts and terminology

CICS concepts, facilities, components

Eight steps in CICS program development

2. Using Basic Mapping Support (BMS)

IBM 3270 display screen characteristics
Coding BMS macros instructions

Day 2

3. CICS Command Level programming

Program design concepts
Pseudo-conversational
Command Level COBOL

4. Program Design (beyond the basic commands)

The EXEC Interface Block (EIB)
Terminal Control
CICS File Control commands
Exceptional Condition Control
Special programming techniques

Day 3

5. Program control facilities

'Transfer' to another program (XCTL)
'Link' to a sub-program (LINK)
Return control (RETURN)
The COMMunications Area

Day 4

6. Test and Debugging

Day 5

7. Overview of storage control facilities

Transient data queues
Temporary storage queues
Journaling
CICS system tables

8. Sample Application program - A review of a Program

9. Workshop exercises

A. Testing your BMS map
B. A first program
C. Read and update a file

Appendices

Appendix A - Exception Conditions
Appendix B - EIB (Execution Interface Block) Fields
Appendix C - Program Check Conditions
Appendix D - Sample Attribute Byte Control Characters
Appendix E - Cobol Functions Not Supported By CICS
Appendix F - Class Standards
Appendix G - Class Refresher Questions
Appendix H - 6 Model BMS Fields
Appendix I - CICS Copy Books - DFHAID, DFHBMSCA
Appendix J - CICS Test VSAM file access Program
Appendix K - CICS Test Map
Appendix L - CICS Test VSAM Data
Appendix M - CICS Test DB2 Table access Program
Appendix N - CICS Test DB2 Table data
Appendix O - DTCN - IBM CICS Debug Tool
Appendix P - ENTER TRACENUM CICS Command
Appendix Q - InterTest Overview