Customer Information Control System Interview Preparation Guide
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CICS Interview Questions and Answers will guide us now that CICS (Customer Information Control System) is a transaction server that runs primarily on IBM mainframe systems under z/OS and z/VSE. CICS is a transaction manager designed for rapid, high-volume online processing. This processing is mostly interactive (screen-oriented), but background transactions are possible. Learn Customer Information Control System or get preparation for the job of CICS by this CICS Interview Questions with Answers

194 CICS Questions and Answers:

1 :: What is CICS?

CICS (Customer Information Control System) is a transaction server that runs primarily on IBM mainframe systems under z/OS and z/VSE.

CICS is a transaction manager designed for rapid, high-volume online processing. This processing is mostly interactive (screen-oriented), but background transactions are possible.

While CICS has its highest profile among financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies, over 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies are reported to rely on CICS (running on z/OS) for their core business functions, beside many governments. CICS is used in bank-teller applications, ATM systems, industrial production control systems, insurance applications and many other types of interactive application.

Recent CICS Transaction Server enhancements include support for Web services and Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs). IBM began shipping the latest release, CICS Transaction Server - Version 3.2, in June of 2007.

2 :: Kindly specify the PIC clause for the following:
Any BLL Cell, Data type of Length Option field, HHMMSS type of data fields?

Any BLL Cell -S9(8) COMP
Data type of length Option field - S9(4) COMP
HHMMSS type of data fields - S9(7) COMP 3

3 :: List the sequence of steps used to achieve Modiication in Skip Sequential Mode?

List the sequence of steps used to achieve "Modiication in Skip Sequential Mode".

I. READNEXT command
II. Issue the ENDBR command
II. Issue the READ command with UDATE option.
IV. Manipulate the record ( DELETE or REWRITE command)
V. Issue START command
VI. Isusue two READNEXT commands (One for dummy skip)
VII. Go to step two.

4 :: What are the commands used to gain exclusive control over a resource?

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

EXEC CICS ENQ EXEC CICS DEQ
RESOURCE(QID) RESOURCE(QID)
END-EXEC END-EXEC

5 :: 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).?

FIELD+L - Return the length of text entered (or for dymanic cursor positioning)
FIELD+F - Return 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.

6 :: How do you intitiate 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)

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