Murach’s CICS for the COBOL Programmer

This book is for COBOL programmers who want to learn how to write CICS applications for IBM mainframes. The only prerequisite is that you know how to develop mainframe COBOL programs that process indexed files. If there's any doubt about that, please get a copy of Murach's Mainframe COBOL. It's a quick training course, an efficient COBOL reference, and the ideal companion for this CICS book.

But this book is also for experienced CICS programmers. It allows you to learn features you haven't used before, as you need them. It serves as a quick reference to the CICS commands and features you use most on the job. In short, it helps you work in a more efficient and productive way.

CICS (Customer Information Control System) is the world-class transaction processor that's used for interactive transactions on IBM mainframe computers. The vast majority of the CICS code for those applications is in the form of CICS commands that are embedded within COBOL programs, which is why this book is called CICS for the COBOL Programmer.

The overall goal of this book is to teach you how to develop CICS programs as quickly and easily as possible. To get you started right:

• Chapter 1 presents the essential CICS concepts and terms.
• Chapter 2 shows how all the pieces of a CICS program work together.
• Chapter 3 shows how to design a CICS program using pseudo-conversational design.
• Chapter 4 shows how to create the BMS mapset that defines the screens a program will display.
• Chapter 5 presents the CICS commands that are used in most CICS programs.
• Chapter 6 shows how to test a CICS program.

At that point, you'll be able to develop CICS programs on your own, and you'll have a solid understanding of what you have to do to become a proficient CICS programmer. Then, the three chapters in section 3 present some additional CICS commands and techniques that you'll use regularly. And section 4 presents a complete CICS application that consists of four programs. Once you understand the design, BMS mapsets, and COBOL code for these programs, you'll have the skills of an entry-level CICS programmer in industry.

To complete your mastery of CICS, the chapters in the last two sections of this book present commands and skills that you can learn in whatever sequence you prefer. Specifically, the chapters in section 5 present the CICS commands and techniques you need for file and database processing. And the chapters in section 6 present advanced CICS features and skills.

Of particular interest are the last three chapters in section 6:

• Chapter 20 shows how to design, code, and test CICS programs in which the "presentation logic" (all the functions related to sending data to and receiving data from the terminal) is separated from the "business logic" (the functions that process the data).
• Chapter 21 shows how this separation of logic can also be used for web applications, thus making CICS a more flexible transaction processor for enterprise applications.
• Last, because maintenance programming is the norm in every CICS shop, chapter 22 presents the type of code that you may come across as you maintain older programs.

Like all of our books, this one has features that you won't find in other books. But here are three that are specific to this book:

• If you're new to CICS, this book gets you started fast. In chapter 2, you'll learn how a complete CICS program works. And by the end of section 2 (just 6 chapters), you'll be able to design, code, and test CICS programs on your own.
• Once you complete the first two sections of the book, you can read the chapters in sections 3, 5, and 6 in whatever sequence you prefer. That's because the chapters in those sections are designed as independent modules. We refer to this as "modular organization," and it helps you get the training you need, when you need it.
• 12 full programs and dozens of coding segments illustrate the design and coding practices that are used in the best CICS shops. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, you'll boost your productivity by using these as models when you code your own programs.

Since CICS applications run on IBM mainframes, this book is best used in a training program or environment that gives you free access to an IBM mainframe. Then, you can compile and test your programs on that mainframe.

If you don’t have access to an IBM mainframe, you can still use this book to learn how to develop CICS programs. You just won’t be able to practice what you’ve learned until you’re on the job.

Murach's Mainframe COBOL

Since this CICS book assumes that you know how to develop COBOL programs on an IBM mainframe, Murach's Mainframe COBOL is the ideal companion book. Beyond that, though, there's a lot more to learn to be an effective CICS programmer. Depending on your assignments, then, some of our other mainframe books may be useful, and all of them work in combination with our COBOL and CICS books:

Murach's CICS Desk Reference

This book combines all the reference information that a CICS/COBOL programmer needs into one handy, easy-to-use source book. It has been a favorite of programmers on the job ever since the first edition was published in 1987.

Murach's OS/390 and z/OS JCL

This book presents the background skills that every programmer needs for working with an IBM mainframe. That includes using the operating system's JCL (Job Control Language), working with VSAM files by using AMS (Access Method Services), and much more.

DB2 for the COBOL Programmer, Part 1

DB2 for the COBOL Programmer, Part 2

DB2 is IBM's database management system, and this two-part series shows how to develop COBOL programs that use DB2. Part 1 presents the basic skills that all DB2 programmers need. Part 2 presents advanced skills, with a chapter on how to access DB2 data from CICS programs.

MVS TSO, Part 1

MVS TSO, Part 2

Part 1 of this series shows how to use the ISPF text editor to develop your programs. Part 2 presents the TSO commands that underlie ISPF and shows you how to use these commands on their own and in CLIST and REXX procedures.