Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:

Add instructor notes here.

Customer Information Control

System
Lesson 1: Introduction to CICS

Page - 01 - 1
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
Lesson Objectives

In this lesson, you will learn about:

• Batch and Online systems
• Interactive Programs
• History of CICS
• Features of CICS
• Task and Transaction Initiation

Page - 01 - 2
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.1: Batch and Online Systems

Features in Batch and Online Systems

Ask the Following is a list of features in Batch and Online systems:

participants
to explain the Feature Batch On-Line
difference Data Collection Off-Line On-Line
Input Sequential In Batch Random
Job Schedule At specific intervals Instantaneous
Resources Not Sharable Sharable
Response Time Not Critical Critical
Output In Printed Format On the Terminal
Security Simple Complex
Recovery Simple Complex
Information Not always current Always current
Updation In Batch Immediate

Page - 01 - 3
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.1: Batch and Online Systems

Online vs Batch Systems

Batch System Online System

Transaction file Online

System

Terminals
Batch System
DATABASE

REPORTS
MASTER FILE

Page - 01 - 4
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.1: Batch and Online Systems

Advantages Of Online System

These days, the online system is so common that virtually every large mainframe
installation has at least one online application system.
This is because the online system has advantages over the batch systems.
• Up-to-date file (information) can be shared among many users simultaneously and
instantly.
• Data validation and editing can be done at data entry time.

Page - 01 - 5
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.1: Batch and Online Systems

Advantages Of Batch System

If the information need not be updated on a real time basis, then batch system can
be used.

When massive file updates have to be done, they should be done in batch mode.
This is because online processing of these areas can be resource intensive.

Advantages of the Batch System:

➢ On the other hand, in spite of the ever-increasing popularity of the
online system, the batch system has not died out. It still contributes
to the large portion of data processing requirements. This is
because the batch system has advantage over the online system.
Some of the advantages of the batch system are as follows:
– Certain information does not have to be updated or displayed
on a real-time base. Users can wait until the next day, the end
of a week, or the end of a month. In this case, the batch system
is sufficient for the purpose.
– If massive file updates or lengthy calculations are involved,
then the batch system should be used because the online
processing in these areas tends to be very costly in terms of
resource consumption.

Page - 01 - 6
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.2: Interactive Programs

Concept Of Interactive Programs

An online system also called as an interactive system is a collection of computer

programs that lets end users access mainframe computers via terminal devices.

Following are the four types of application programs:

• Data Entry Program
• Inquiry Program
• File Maintenance Program
• Menu Program

Page - 01 - 7
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.2: Interactive Programs

Data Entry Programs

Give examples The operator enters the data for one transaction at the terminal.
Of each of the The program updates any related master files.
Interactive The program writes the transaction to the transaction file.
system
E.G. When you
go to a railway
reservation
counter and
book tickets
2 Master file
Data
Terminal 1 entry
programs
3
Trans file

Page - 01 - 8
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.2: Interactive Programs

File Maintenance Programs

The operator enters the record key.

The program reads the appropriate record from the master file.
The program displays the record at the terminal.
The operator enters any required changes to the record.
The program rewrites the record to the master file.

1 2
Terminal File
3 Master File
maintenanc 5
4 e

Page - 01 - 9
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.2: Interactive Programs

Menu Programs

The menu program sends a list of selections to the terminal.

The operator chooses one of the selections.
Control is transferred to the appropriate program.

Program1
1
Terminal Menu
program Program 2
3
2
Program 3

Page - 01 - 10
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.3: Interactive System Considerations

Factors Affecting Interactive Systems

There are a few considerations of an online system that a programmer must

contend with, while designing and developing these programs:
• Shared Files
• Response Time
• Security
• Recovery

Page - 01 - 11
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.3: Interactive System Considerations

Significance Of Shared Files

A batch program typically has complete control of the file it uses. So there is no
chance that another program can interfere with its processing.
In an interactive system, many terminal operators use the same system
simultaneously, and all must have access to the file they require.
• When an interactive system lets users shared files, it must coordinate all file updates to
insure file integrity such that no two users are able to update the same record at the same
time.

Page - 01 - 12
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.3: Interactive System Considerations

Significance Of Response Time

Response time is the amount of time for which a user must wait while a transaction
is being processed.
Many factors affect the response time, namely:
• The number of users on the system
• The size of the CPU
• The speed of disk drives
• The speed of communication lines
• The manner in which the application programs are written

Page - 01 - 13
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.3: Interactive System Considerations

Significance Of Security

The main security technique used in today’s interactive system is the logon
procedure.
In addition to the logon procedure, most interactive systems have a multilevel
security system that allows some users to access certain files.
Each user is allowed to access only those files s/he is authorized to use.

Security:
CICS provides simple security features and many CICS installations
use other security management systems that provide tighter control.
Although security is an important consideration in an online system, it
does not affect the way application programs are developed.

Page - 01 - 14
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.3: Interactive System Considerations

Significance Of Recovery

All interactive systems must provide for recovery in the event of a system failure.
Recovery in an interactive system should be properly planned, since it involves
hundreds of users.

Page - 01 - 15
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Networking Fundamentals

A data communication network comprises the following components:

• Host System
• Communication Controller
• Communication Lines
• Modem
• Terminal controller
• Terminals

Page - 01 - 16
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Networking Fundamentals

These concepts
have been
discussed in MVS.
Ask the participants
to explain them the
components

Host Communicatio
System n Modem Modem Ts
controller

Communication Lines

Page - 01 - 17
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Significance Of A Host System

To control communication systems, the host system uses telecommunication access

methods.
The common methods are as follows:
• BTAM (Basic Telecommunication Access method)
• TCAM (Telecommunication Access Method)
• VTAM (Virtual Telecommunication Access method)

Page - 01 - 18
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Significance Of Communication Controller

The modem of the Telecommunication line is connected to the host system via a
communication controller.
• The communication controller controls the functions necessary to control the transmission of
data over the communication line.
• One of the main functions of communication controller is data conversion. It implies
converting data into a form that the modem can process.
• Another main function of a communication controller is data-link control.
• Data-link control ensures successful transmission of data over the communication line.
• Some of the functions required for data-link control are:
• Synchronizing the host with the terminal
• Identifying the source and destination of transmission
• Detecting and correcting transmission errors
• Popular models of communication controller are 3704 and 3705.

Page - 01 - 19
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Significance Of Modem

The function of the modem is to:

• Convert digital signals to audio frequency signals that can be sent over the phone line
• Reconvert audio frequency signals back into digital signals that can be processed by the
computer system

Page - 01 - 20
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Significance Of Communication Lines

One of the major components of a communication network is a phone connection,

often called a communication line.

The TC line can be set through private telephone system or may be privately
owned.

Page - 01 - 21
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.4: Elements of a Data Communication Network

Significance Of A Terminal System

A terminal system consists of a terminal controller plus one or more display stations
(Terminals).

A popular terminal system in M/F is 3270.

Page - 01 - 22
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.5: Introduction to CICS

The CICS Concept

CICS acts as an interface between the Operating system and Application programs.

Application
Program

CICS

Op. System

Page - 01 - 23
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.5: Introduction to CICS

The CICS Concept

• CICS is an interface between application Operating

program systemin an interactive system and the host OS.
Disk storage

• The application program communicates with CICS. Application

Data access
• In turn CICS communicates with access method through programs
the host OS
(VSAM,DB2,IMS)

• Then the access methods (such as VTAM,BTAM,VSAM or ISAM) communicate with the system
devices (such as terminals, disk drives, or tape drives.)

CICS
Communication
access
(VTAM, SNA,
TCP/IP)

User interface

Page - 01 - 24
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.5: Introduction to CICS

The CICS Concept

• As far as the operating system is concerned, CICS is an application program.

• CICS runs as a JOB in one of the system’s partitions or regions.
• The region or partition may be a real address space but more often is a virtual address
space.
• CICS behaves like an OS within an OS.
• CICS is given the most favored status in an installation by making it non-swappable and is
given the highest priority.

Page - 01 - 25
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.5: Introduction to CICS

CICS and OS Scheduling

CICS runs in one 'region' or 'partition' or 'address space' and handles scheduling for
programs running under it.
Since CICS is itself a batch job, it is scheduled by the OS and will compete with
other batch jobs for CPU time. Therefore CICS is usually run with high priority.

OS/390

Address space 1 Address space 2 Address space 3 Address space 4

CICS
CICS production Batch TSO
test
region Job user
region

Page - 01 - 26
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Salient Features

Following are the prime features available in CICS:

• DB/DC
• Multiprogramming
• Multitasking
• Scheduling

Page - 01 - 27
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Significance Of DB/DC

Since CICS controls both database operations as well as data communication

operations it is often called as DB/DC system.

Page - 01 - 28
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Significance Of Multiprogramming

Multiprogramming means that the operating system allows several programs to

execute at the same time.
• The key to understanding multiprogramming is that at any given time only one program can
have the control of the CPU.
• As far as the operating system is concerned, CICS is an application program. It implies that
CICS runs as a job in one of the system’s partition or region, which is a virtual address
space.

Page - 01 - 29
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Significance Of Multiprogramming

Therefore CICS takes part in multiprogramming environment of the operating

system.
CICS is a longer running job. Therefore it remains up during the day time collecting
on-line transactions, and at night time, it executes batch jobs for master file
updation, etc.

Page - 01 - 30
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Significance Of Multitasking

Multitasking implies that a program running in a single partition or region allows

multiple tasks to execute simultaneously.
A task is an execution of a programs or programs for a specific user.
• Example: If user1 is running PGM A, then user1 has created a task.
Multitasking is the same as multiprogramming, however, it is one level down.

Page - 01 - 31
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Multiprogramming and Multitasking

DOS/VSE
Supervisor Area
Background COBOL compiler
Foreground 4 CICS Test partition
Foreground 3 Payroll application
Foreground 2 Unused
Foreground 1 CICS production partition
User 1 Order Entry
User 2 Customer Enquiry
User 3 Order Entry
User 4 Inventory Inquiry
User 5 Customer File
maintenance
User 6 Order Entry

Page - 01 - 32
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes: 1.6: Features of CICS

Multitasking

CICS can accept input from many terminals, and when the currently executing task
completes, or has to wait for file I/O, there is another task ready to execute.
A task is the execution of an application program for a specific user and CICS
handles multitasking internally, within its own address space.
CICS decides which ready-to-run task is to be given control in a process known as
task dispatching. The highest priority ready task is dispatched.

CICS address space

Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 5

Order entry Customer Master menu Customer Order entry
program inquiry program maintenance program
(user 1) program (user 3) program (user 5)
(user 2) (user 4)

Page - 01 - 33
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Significance Of Multithreading

In the above figure user1, user3, and user6 are accessing the same application
program: Order entry.
• This would waste valuable storage space if the same program was loaded into storage at
three different storage locations.

Under CICS, however, a concept called multithreading is used so that only one copy
of the program is loaded into the storage.

Multithreading:
Multithreading means that the area of storage containing a program is
not allocated to a specific user. Instead all users running the program
have access to the same storage locations.

Page - 01 - 34
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.6: Features of CICS

Significance Of Re-entrant

For multithreading to work, a program must be re-entrant.

• A re-entrant program cannot modify data in working storage.
• As a result a user can enter a re-entrant program at any point without affecting the users
who are running it.

Page - 01 - 35
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
Significance of Re-entrant

Virtual storage

Program A object code

User1 Program A working User2 running

running storage(User1) program A
program A

Program A working
storage(User2)

Re-entrant:
➢ In the example in the above slide, the two users share the same
application program, that is PROGRAM A.
➢ They share the same storage for the program’s object code, that is
the procedure division, but each is given a separate working
storage area. This way each uses the working-storage in a normal
fashion.
➢ A Quasi-reentrant program is a reentrant program under CICS
environment. That is a Quasi-reentrant program is a CICS program
which does not modify itself.
➢ When you write a command-level CICS program, you do not have
to worry about making it quasi-reentrant. CICS automatically
handles that for you.

Page - 01 - 36
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.7: Transaction

Concept Of Transaction

Give an overview A transaction is a pre-defined unit of work that a user can invoke.
of the transaction • When a transaction is invoked, a specific application program is loaded into storage (if it is
not already in storage) and a task is started.
and task.
• The difference between a task and transaction is that while several users may start the
Tables same transaction, each will be given its own task.
are discussed
in more detail
in the next lesson

Examples of Transaction:
Displaying a record on screen
Entering a customer’s order into the system
Entering fields needed for computation
Receiving the result of that computation

Each CICS transaction requires many tasks

Multiple users can invoke the same transaction but a different task is
created for each user

Page - 01 - 37
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.7: Transaction

Concept Of Transaction

Initiating a CICS • Each transaction is identified by a four-character code called transaction identifier
(transaction id).
transaction : • An operator initiates a transaction by entering the transaction id on to the terminal.
•By 4 character • A special CICS table, called the program control table (or PCT), defines each transaction.
• Each trans-id is paired with the name of the program CICS will load and execute when the
transaction identifier transaction is invoked.
entered at the terminal
and by pressing enter
key
•By using START
command
•By using ATI
•By specifying a
terminal key
associated with a
program defined in
PCT
•By pseudo-
conversational way
RETURN with
TRANS-ID.

Page - 01 - 38
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.7: Transaction

Concept Of Transaction

• Another CICS table, called the processing program table (or PPT), contains a list of all valid
program names.
• The PPT indicates each program’s location – a storage address if the program has already
been loaded or a disk location if the program has not been loaded.
• CICS uses PPT to determine whether it will load a new copy of the program when the
transaction is invoked.

Page - 01 - 39
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.8: Initiation of a Task

Concept Of Initiation Of A Task

The operator starts a transaction by entering a transaction-id.

CICS searches the PCT to find the program to be executed.
CICS then searches the PPT to determine the location of the program.
If the program is not currently in storage, then the disk location is returned.

Page - 01 - 40
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.8: Initiation of a Task

Concept Of Initiation Of A Task

Then CICS locates the program on the DISK and loads it into storage and a task is
initiated.

If the program is already in storage, then the object code for the program is NOT
retrieved from the disk unit.

What is a task?

Most elementary unit of work to CICS by OS.

Task is initiated when CICS starts executing the program

Task continues until the program gives up control to CICS and

‘dies’

Page - 01 - 41
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
1.8: Initiation of a Task

Concept Of Initiation Of A Task

Operator enters
Terminal
trans-id ORD1:
PCT

CICS locates trans-id Transactio Program

ORD1 in the program n
DM01 DMPGM01
control table Virtual Storage
DM02 DMPGM02
ORD1 ORD1PGM1
DMPGM01
PPT
MMAPGM1
CICS locates the Location Dataset
program ORDPGM1 in A DMPGM01
the processing B DMPGM02 (Available)
program table D ORD1PGM1

Disk Device

Program Locatio
CICS loads the
DMPGM0 n
Core object module
1
DMPGM0 Disk=B ORDPGM1 into
2
ORD1PGM1 Disk=D virtual storage and
the task begins

Page - 01 - 42
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
Summary

In this lesson, you have learnt about:

• Features of Batch and Online System
• Interactive systems
• Features of CICS
• Concepts of Transaction and Task

Page - 01 - 43
 Customer Information Control System Introduction to CICS

Instructor Notes:
Review Questions

1. PPT Question 1: CICS searches ___ to determine the location of the program.
2. Response Time
3. Task Question 2: ___ is the amount of time a user must wait while a transaction is
being processed.

Question 3: A ___ is an execution of a programs or programs for a specific

user.

Page - 01 - 44