CICS Interview Questions and Answers - DoAnswers.com

(Customer Information Control System) A TP monitor from IBM that was originally developed to provide transaction processing for IBM mainframes. It controls the interaction between applications and users and lets programmers develop screen displays without detailed knowledge of the terminals used. It provides terminal routing, password security, transaction logging for error recovery and activity journals for performance analysis. CICS is a transaction processing system that can handle both small and large numbers of transactions, although it is designed mainly for huge numbers. The top transaction number so far recorded is in the several thousands per second. The functionality extends from traditional mainframes to online batch activity as well. CICS has also been made available on non-mainframe platforms including the RS/6000, AS/400 and OS/2-based PCs.CICS commands are written along with and into the source code of the applications, typically COBOL, although assembly language, PL/I and RPG are also used. CICS implements SNA layers 4, 5 and 6.

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44. How can the fact that EIBCALEN is equal to zeros be of use to an application programmer?

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).

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

46. 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

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.

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