CICS Technical Interview Questions,Answers,FAQs;CICS Job Interview 1. What is trigger level in the context of TDQs?

For intrapartition TDQs specify the # records at which ATI happens. not applicab le for extra partition TDQs. 2.How do you fire a batch job from a CICS txn ? Define an extrapartition TDQ as an internal reader and write the JCL to it. Term inate the JCL with /*EOF. 3. What is ATI? What kind of TDQ can be used? Automatic Task Initiation. Intra partition TDQ. 4. Do you require a table entry for a TSQ? If recovery is needed. 5. Is there any entry for TSQs in CICS tables? Yes in the DFHTST. 6. What is the use of DCT? Destination Control Table used to define TDQs 7. What is ENQ, DEQ ? Task control commands to make resources serially reusable. 8. I have TSQ with 15 items. I want to delete the 10th item. How do I do that? 9. Can you issue SQL COMMIT from a CICS program? Yes. 10. What is the other way of terminating a transaction? EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT. Assuming it is a LUW. This will not end the Xn. 11. What is an ASRA abend ? Any data exception problem SOC7, SOC4 etc. 12. What is an AEY9 abend ? DB2/IDMS not up. 13. What are the situations under which NEWCOPY is required ? When a program has been used in CICS atleast once and then changed and recompile d. 14. What is 2 phase commit? What is EXEC CICS RETRIEVE ? Used by STARTed tasks to get the parameters passed to them. 15. Name some important fields in the EIB block ? EIBRESP, EIBCALEN, EIBRRCDE, EIBTASK, EIBDATE, EIBTIME 16. Can you use DYNAMIC calls in CICS ? Yes, the called routine must be defined in PPT and the calling program must use CALL identifier.. 17. How do you handle errors in CICS pgms ? Check EIBRESP after the call or use the HANDLE condition. 18. Suppose pgm A passes 30 bytes to pgm B thru commarea and pgm B has defined i ts DFHCOMMAREA to be 50 bytes . Is there a problem ? Yes, if B tries to access bytes 31-50.

19.When an XCTL is done, does the tranid change ? Is a new task created ? Does i t cause an implicit SYNCPOINT to be issued ? No, No, Yes. 20. How do you execute a background CICS txn ? With a START or ATI. 21. Can a CICS region be attached to more than one DB2 subsystem ? 22. What determines the DB2 subsystem to which a particular CICS region is attac hed ? 23. What is the DSNC transaction used for ? 24. How do you handle error in a CICS program? 25. What is the difference between START and XCTL ? START is used to start a new task. It is a interval control command. XCTL is use d to pass control to a program within the same task. It is a program control com mand. 26. What is the usage of language in the PPT entry? Language interface and call parameters??? 27. Can you have CICS code in a copybook? If yes, what happens during compilatio n? Yes. Needs to be preprocessed. 28. What is an AICA abend? Runaway Task. 29. How would you resolve an ASRA abend? In COBOL II start with CEBR, and get the offset/instruction. 30. How do I find the name of the CICS region inside my COBOL program? 31. When you do a START, what will the value of EIBCALEN? Zero. 32. How are VSAM files Read in CICS pgms? File Control Commands. Random, Sequential, forward and backward. 33. How will you access a VSAM file using an alternate index? Thru the path. Define path as an FCT and use normal File control commands. 34. How do you rollback data written to an ESDS file? Define the file as recoverable. in cases where records have been inserted into t he file, you may need to run a batch program to logically delete the inserted re cords. 35. I have done a START BROWSE on a VSAM dataset. Can I do another START BROWSE without doing an END BROWSE? No. 36. Can you access QSAM (seq ) files from CICS ? No. 37. Can you access ESDS files from CICS ? Yes. 73. What is CICS ?

CICS - Customer Information Control System CICS is a telecommunications monitor software product from IBM. The IBM mainfram e operating systems are batch and time-sharing. CICS supports the development an d execution of online applications. It does this by - communicating with terminals - sending and receiving fomatted data - accessing files and database CICS itself is batch job running on the operating system with high priority. CIC S does scheduling of programs that run under the CICS region. Overview:CICS Job Interview Questions for Mainframe Technical Interview,CICS Fre quently Asked Job Interview Questions What is the difference between using the READ command with INTO option and SET o ption? What will happen, if an out-of-range or negative value is specified in the LENGT H option of the SEND command? What is the use of DCT? What is the option that is used to erase all unprotected field during a SEND MAP operation? What is the function of the Terminal Control Table (TCT) ? What is the difference between EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDTION and an EXEC CICS IGNORE command? What is the command which will delete a program LOADed into the main storage usi ng LOAD command ? What is the CICS command used to access current date and time? What is some of the information available in the EIB area? What is ENQ, DEQ? What is CEBR? What is a transid and explain the system transid CEMT? What happens to resources supplied to a transaction when an XCTL command is exec uted ? What CICS facilities can you use to save data between the transactions? What are the six different type of argument values in COBOL that can be placed i n various options of a CICS command? What are the CICS commands available for program control? TSQs can be written in the Main storage or Auxiliary storage ( True or False). Sync points cannot be requested by the application programs (True or False). Name some of the common tables in CICS and their usage.

Into which table is the terminal id registered? If DATAONLY option is specified in the SEND MAP command what will happen? How many ways are there for initiating a transaction ? what are they ? How do you rollback data written to an ESDS file ? How do you establish a starting position in a browse operation? How can the fact that EIBCALEN is equal to zeros be of use to an application pro grammer? Explain the means of supporting pseudo conversation programming Code a program meeting the following requirements. Can you have CICS code in a copybook ? If yes, what happens during compilation Are sequential files supported by CICS Which option of the PCT entry is used to specify the PF key? Which is the CICS control program which governs the flow of control among the CI CS application programs When an apllication is invoked via the EXEC CICS START command? What is the use of DSECT paramet?er in BMS What is the other way of terminating a transaction What is the function of the Terminal Control table? What is the differences between getting the system time with EIBTIME and ASKTIME command ? What is the difference between FSET and FRSET What is the COMMAREA (communications area)? What is the CICS LOAD command? What is task control and what are the CICS commands associated with it? What is EXEC CICS RETRIEVE? What is CECI? What is a two Phase commit in CICS? What happens when a CICS command contains the NOHANDLE option? What command do you issue to delete a record in a transient data queue ? What are the steps you go through to a create a BMS executable? What are the commands used to gain exclusive control over a resource

What are attribute bytes and how and why are they modified? The DFHCOMMARA is used to pass information from one application to another Name some translator and compile options and explain their meaning? Is there any entry for TSQs in CICS tables? If I create a TSQ from one transaction, can I read it from another transaction? How to build up LU 6.2 communication? How do you set the MDT option to ON status, even if data is not entered? How do you execute a backgroound CICS transaction ? How can you accomplish breakpoint in intertest ? Explain the term "MRO" (Multi Region Operation)? DB2 What is the difference between a package and a plan Can you issue SQL COMMIT from a CICS program Before issuing an ASKTIME command what will be the values in the EIBDATE and EIB TIME fields if the EIB? Realtime CICS Interview Questions and Answers collected from various sources 1. How do you place the cursor on a particular position on the screen? Move -1 to the length attribute of the field annd use the CURSOR option. 2. Define the field with IC in the BMS map. Use CURSOR(n m)?? 3. What are the two outputs created as a result of generation of a map? The map copybook and the load module. 4. What is the difference between physical map and symbolic map? The physical map is the load module and the symbolic map is the data structure. 5. How do you protect a field from being overlaid? What is the attribute byte? Defines the display/transmission of field. most cases is an output field from th e program. 6. How do you use extended attributes ? Define EXTATT=YES and the correct terminal type. 7. What are the 3 working storage fields used for every field on the map? Length, attribute and input/output field. 8. What is MDT? What are FSET, FRSET ? Modified Data Tag. Bit in the attribute byte indicating modification of field on screen. Happens on an input operation. FSET. Sets MDT on to ensure field is transmitted. Happens on an output operation . FRSET. Resets MDT. Until this happens, field continues to be sent.

9. What is the use of DSECT parameter in BMS? Is the parameter to generate a symbolic map. 10. Do you receive the attribute byte in the symbolic map? On EOF yes. 11. How do you make your BMS maps case sensitive? Use ASIS??? 12. What is effect on RECEIVE MAP when PF key is pressed? Data transmission may happen, PA key is pressed? Data transmission will not happen. 13. What are SEND MAP MAPONLY & SEND MAP DATAONLY ? MAPONLY - to send the map alone, without any data. Eg: used for sending Menu scr eens. DATAONLY - to send data alone, without sending the screen layout again. Eg: used for refreshing the screen data. 14. What is the difference between a PF key & a PA key ? PF keys wake up the task and transmit modified data, PA keys only wake up the ta sk. 15. Name the macros used to define the following: MAP MAPSET FIELD DFHMSD DFHMDI DFHMDF 16. Can you use OCCURS in a BMS map? If you do, what are the issues related with its use? Yes. cannot use group by clause??? 17. Can you define multiple maps in a BMS mapset? Yes. 18. How is the storage determined in the symbolic map, if you have multiple maps ? Storage for maps redefine the first. This means largest map has to be the first. 19. What is the meaning of BMS length of field = 0? Data was not entered in the field 20. Can you simply check if length = 0 for checking if a field was modified? No, not if ERASE EOF was used. 21. What do you do if you do not want characters entered by the user to be folde d to uppercase ? Use ASIS option on RECEIVE. 22. What does the BUFFER option in RECEIVE mean ? Brings the entire datastream from the terminal buffer. 23. What are the steps you go through to a create a BMS executable? Assemble to create CSECT and Link 24. When you compile a CICS program, the (pre)compiler puts an extra chunk of co de. Where does it get included and that is it called? What is its length? DFHEIBLK, DFHCOMMAREA. 25. List all the CICS tables and explain their contents.

PPT PCT FCT DCT RCT

SIT JCT SNT SRT TCT

26. I have written a CICS program. What tables should I setup to run this progra m? PPT, PCT, (FCT, DCT, RCT (if needed)). 27. In which table would you make an entry for a BMS map? PPT 28. What is the content of the PPT entry? Length, Source, Use count, Lang, Res count DFHRPL number 29. For a CICS-DB2 program, how is the plan referenced? Uses a RCT table. 30. How is dynamic memory allocated within a CICS application program? Use a GETMAIN 31. What are the restrictions while using GETMAIN and FREEMAIN? ????????????????????? 32. What is the use of a TDQ, TSQ? Temporary data stores. 33. How do you read from a TSQ? Temp storage read command. 34. If I create a TSQ from one transaction, can I read it from another transacti on? Yes. As long as they run in the same region. 35. What are extra partition & intra partition TDQs? Extra partition TDQs are datasets used for communication b n CICS and other CICS/B atch regions. Intrapartition TDQs are queues for communication within regn. Overview:Collection of Mainframe CICS Interview Questions askeds in MNCs .CICS I nterview Questions Discussing Most Frequently Asked CICS questions. What CICS command do you need to obtain the user logon-id? What are transient data sets defined to CICS? Which of the following are recoverable CICS resources? Which command is used to release a record on which exclusive control is gained? What will be the length of the eibcalen, if the transaction is used to CICS firs t time ? What is the usage of language in the PPT entry? What is the most common way of building queue-id of a TSQ ? What is the function of the EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDITION command?

What is the difference between the INTO and the SET option in the EXEC CICS RECE IVE MAP command? What is the difference between a Symbolic map and Physical map? What is the command used to request notification when the specified time has exp ired? What is the CICS command that is used to copy a screen image of a terminal into another terminal? What is multitasking and multithreading? What is EIB, How is can be used? What is ATI? What kind of TDQ can be used? What is a mapset? What does the BUFFER option in RECEIVE mean? What CICS command would you use to read a VSAM KSDS sequentially in ascending or der? What are the parameters that you have to give when you are using the CSSN transa ction? What are the beginning and end points of an LUW called? The read of a record from an Intrapartition TDQ is not destructive (True or Fals e) . Specify CICS transaction initiation process. Name some common CICS service programs and explain their usage? In which table would you make an entry for a BMS map? I have done a START BROWSE on a VSAM dataset How many conditions can you include in a single HANDLE CONDITION command? How do you place the cursor on a particular position on the screen? How do you delete Item 3 in a five-item TSQ? How are programs reinitiated under CICS? Explain the basic difference between Intra partition TDQ and Extra partition TDQ . CICS provides an interface throough which the all the DL/I services can be used under CICS (True or False) ? A mapset consists of three maps and 10 fields on each map. How many of the follo wing will be needed?

Which of the following commands, when issued by 2 different programs running at the same time Which is the AID that will not be identified in the ANYKEY option of the HANDLE AID command ? What will happen if the TDQ that you want to delete is not in the DCT? What is the use of a TDQ, TSQ? What is the name of the mapset definition macro? What is the function of the LOAD command? What is the difference between the XCTL and LINK commands ? What is the difference between CICS Program Control Table What is the command used to send a map to a terminal? What is the CICS command that is used to receive What is Quasi-reentrancy ? What is ENQ in CICS? What is BMS What is a resident program ? What does the following transactions do ? What CICS command would you use to read a VSAM KSDS sequentially in ascending or der? What are the situations under which NEW COPY is required? What are the CICS commands associated with transient data queue processing? Translation Time is not reduced if the Pre-compilcation is done first (True or F alse). Specify the requirements for Automatic Task Initiation Name some important fields in the EIB block? Into what fields will the date and time values be moved after execution of the a bove command ? I have written a CICS program? What tables should I setup to run this program ? How many exceptional condition can be given in a HANDLE CONDITION? How do you read from a TSQ? How do you dynamically set the CURSOR position to a specific field?

How are VSAM files Read in CICS prograams Explain the difference amonge the EXEC LINK CICS system services provides an interface between CICS An XCTL uses more CPU time than LINK (True or False) . CICS Interview Questions gathered from varoius Job Interviews. CICS Interview Fr equently Asked Questions Which transient data queue support ATI? Which is the command that is used to dump the main storage areas related to a ta sk? When an XCTL is done, does the tranid change ? What is transient data? What is the primary function of the Processing Program Table (PPT)? What is the general Command format of CICS What is the effect of including the TRANSID in the EXEC CICS RETURN command? What is the difference between LINK and XCTL ? What is the common systems area (CSA)? What is the CICS supplied transaction which performs syntax checking of a CICS command? What is temporary storage? What is interval control and what are some of the CICS commands associated with it? What is CEDF? What is an AEY9 abend ? What information can be obtained from the EIBRCODE ? What do the keywords MAPONLY and DATAONLY mean? What are the three ways available for a program to position the cursor on the sc reen? What are the databases that CICS can access ? What are different system tables used in CICS? The DL/I database is a hierarchical database Name the macros used to define the following: MAP MAPSET FIELD? Kindly specify the PIC clause for the following:

If no exception handling is provided in the program, what will happen? How to establish dynamic cursor position on a map? How do you terminate an already issued DELAY command? How do you fire a batch job from a CICS transaction? How can you prevent more than one user from accessing the same Transient Data Qu eue ? Explain the term Function Request Shipping? Difference between TSQ and TDQ? Can you simpply check if length = 0 for checking if a field was modified ? By which CICS defined field can you determine the position of the cursor on the map? Which type of TDQ is read destructive ? Which is the command used for terminating a browse operation? When there are 2 records with the same key specified in a DELETE operation what will happen ? What is trigger level in the context of TDQs? What is the primary objective of CICS ? What is the MASSINSERT option? What is the EIB (execute interface block)? What is the difference between link Xctl? What is the common work area (CWA)? What is the COMAERA (communication area)? What is the ABEND command and when would you use it? What is Journal Recovery and Dynamic Transaction Backout? What is an AICA abend ? What information do you get when an EXEC CICS STARTCODE is issued? What do the terms locality of reference and working set mean? What are the thress BMS options? What are the DB2 steps required to migrate a CICS DB2 program from source code t o load module? What are different ways of initiating transaction in CICS ?

The EIB field which gives the last CICS command executed is Name three ways the Modified Data Tag can be set on ? LENGERR, NOTAUTH and PGMIDERR If you use the OPTIMIZE compiler option the size of the program can be reduced b y 5 to 10% (True or False). How to get the sign-on user-id from an application program ? How do you use extended attributes? How do you get data from a task that began with a START command? How can you start a CICS transaction other than by keying the Transaction ID at the terminal ? Explain the term Transaction routing? Do you receive the attribute byte in the symbolic map Can you use DYNAMIC calls in CICS? Can a program change protected field? Why doesn't CICS use the Cobol Open and Close statements? CICS Interview Questions, Learn by sharing CICS Interview Questions asked in var ious MNCs like TCS,Wipro,Infosys,HP Dell and IBM Which is the option of the HANDLE AID command Which CICS command must be issued by the application program What table must be update when adding a new transaction and program? What is the significance of RDO? What is the meaning of the ENQ and DEQ commands? What is the function of DFHMDF BMS macro? What is the difference between START and XCTL ? What is the difference between a physical BMS mapset and a logical BMS mapset ? What is the command that is used to delay the processing of a task for a specifi ed time interval or until a specified time? What is the CICS command that gives the length of TWA area? What is meant by a CICS task? What is difference between call and link ?

What is an MDT ? What is a logical message in CICS? What does it mean when EIBCALEN is equal to zeros? What are the two ways of breaking a CPU bound process to allow other task to gai n access to CPU. What are the differences between DFHCOMMAREA and TSQ? What are the 3 working storage fields used for every field on the map? The map shown below is displayed with: Once a transient data queue is read, can it be reread? Name and explain some common CICS abend codes? In the CICS command level all the re-entrancy issues are handled by the System ( True or False).? How would you release control of the record in a READ for UPDATE? How is the stopper byte different from an auto byte? How do you invoke other programs? What are the pros and cons of each method? How do you control cursor positioning? For multithreading an apllication program need not be re-entrant(True or False). Explain how to handle exceptional conditions in CICS. CICS Command level is? Can you access QSAM (seq) files from CICS? Why must all CICS programs have a Linkage Section? Which is the program which determines whether a transaction should be restarted? Which CICS system program is responsible for handling automatic task initializat ion? What us the primary function of the Sign-on Table ? What is the size of commarea ? What is the meaning of the SYNCPOINT command? What is the function of the CICS translator ? What is the difference between the enter key, the PF keys and the PA keys What is the difference between a RETURN What is the command used for receiving a map from a terminal?

What is the CICS Command that is used for reading a record from the TDQ? What is meant by program reentrance? What is effect on RECEIVE MAP when PF key is pressed? PA key is pressed? What is ASRAABEND in CICS ? What is a Logical Unit of Work (LUW) ? What does Pseudo Conversational mean? What are the various types of accesses that can be allowed by the SERVREQ option of the DFHFCT What are the differences between Temporary Storage Queue (TSQ) and Transient Dat a Quene (TDQ)? What are the attribute values of Skipper and Stopper fields? The process of writting its own type of journal records by the application progr am Reading a record from a TSQ will logically delete the record from the Queue (Tru e or False). Name some command used for CICS file browsing. In which CICS table would you specify the length of the TASK WORK AREA (TWA)? How would you resolve an ASRA abend? How is the storage determined in the symbolic map, if you have multiple maps ? How do you make your BMS maps case sensitive How do you define Task Work Area? How and where is the TWA size set? Explain re-entrancy as applies to CICS. Can you define multiple maps in a BMS mapset A CICS program ABENDS with an ASRA ABEND code, What is its meaning ? CICS Interview Questions, Learn by sharing CICS Interview Questions asked in var ious MNCs like TCS,Wipro,Infosys,HP Dell and IBM Which is the option of the HANDLE AID command Which CICS command must be issued by the application program What table must be update when adding a new transaction and program? What is the significance of RDO? What is the meaning of the ENQ and DEQ commands?

What is the function of DFHMDF BMS macro? What is the difference between START and XCTL ? What is the difference between a physical BMS mapset and a logical BMS mapset ? What is the command that is used to delay the processing of a task for a specifi ed time interval or until a specified time? What is the CICS command that gives the length of TWA area? What is meant by a CICS task? What is difference between call and link ? What is an MDT ? What is a logical message in CICS? What does it mean when EIBCALEN is equal to zeros? What are the two ways of breaking a CPU bound process to allow other task to gai n access to CPU. What are the differences between DFHCOMMAREA and TSQ? What are the 3 working storage fields used for every field on the map? The map shown below is displayed with: Once a transient data queue is read, can it be reread? Name and explain some common CICS abend codes? In the CICS command level all the re-entrancy issues are handled by the System ( True or False).? How would you release control of the record in a READ for UPDATE? How is the stopper byte different from an auto byte? How do you invoke other programs? What are the pros and cons of each method? How do you control cursor positioning? For multithreading an apllication program need not be re-entrant(True or False). Explain how to handle exceptional conditions in CICS. CICS Command level is? Can you access QSAM (seq) files from CICS? Why must all CICS programs have a Linkage Section? Which is the program which determines whether a transaction should be restarted?

Which CICS system program is responsible for handling automatic task initializat ion? What us the primary function of the Sign-on Table ? What is the size of commarea ? What is the meaning of the SYNCPOINT command? What is the function of the CICS translator ? What is the difference between the enter key, the PF keys and the PA keys What is the difference between a RETURN What is the command used for receiving a map from a terminal? What is the CICS Command that is used for reading a record from the TDQ? What is meant by program reentrance? What is effect on RECEIVE MAP when PF key is pressed? PA key is pressed? What is ASRAABEND in CICS ? What is a Logical Unit of Work (LUW) ? What does Pseudo Conversational mean? What are the various types of accesses that can be allowed by the SERVREQ option of the DFHFCT What are the differences between Temporary Storage Queue (TSQ) and Transient Dat a Quene (TDQ)? What are the attribute values of Skipper and Stopper fields? The process of writting its own type of journal records by the application progr am Reading a record from a TSQ will logically delete the record from the Queue (Tru e or False). Name some command used for CICS file browsing. In which CICS table would you specify the length of the TASK WORK AREA (TWA)? How would you resolve an ASRA abend? How is the storage determined in the symbolic map, if you have multiple maps ? How do you make your BMS maps case sensitive How do you define Task Work Area? How and where is the TWA size set? Explain re-entrancy as applies to CICS.

Can you define multiple maps in a BMS mapset A CICS program ABENDS with an ASRA ABEND code, What is its meaning ? CICS Interview Questions each with their own answer,Interview Questions on Mainf rame CICS,CICS FAQs and Answers asked in various MNCs How do you use extended attributes ? Define EXTATT=YES and the correct terminal type. What are the 3 working storage fields used for every field on the map? Length, attribute and input/output field. How do you protect a field from being overlaid? What is the attribute byte? Defines the display/transmission of field. most cases is an output field from th e program. What is MDT? What are FSET, FRSET ? Modified Data Tag. Bit in the attribute byte indicating modification of field on screen. Happens on an input operation. FSET. Sets MDT on to ensure field is transmitted. Happens on an output operation . FRSET. Resets MDT. Until this happens, field continues to be sent. What is the use of DSECT parameter in BMS? Is the parameter to generate a symbolic map. What is effect on RECEIVE MAP when PF key is pressed? Data transmission may happen, PA key is pressed? Data transmission will not happen. Do you receive the attribute byte in the symbolic map? On EOF yes. How do you make your BMS maps case sensitive? Use ASIS What are SEND MAP MAPONLY & SEND MAP DATAONLY ? MAPONLY - to send the map alone, without any data. Eg: used for sending Menu scr eens. DATAONLY - to send data alone, without sending the screen layout again. Eg: used for refreshing the screen data. What is the difference between a PF key & a PA key ? PF keys wake up the task and transmit modified data, PA keys only wake up the ta sk. Name the macros used to define the following: MAP MAPSET FIELD DFHMSD DFHMDI DFHMDF Can you use OCCURS in a BMS map? If you do, what are the issues related with its use? Yes. cannot use group by clause??? Can you define multiple maps in a BMS mapset? Yes.

How is the storage determined in the symbolic map, if you have multiple maps? Storage for maps redefine the first. This means largest map has to be the first. What is the meaning of BMS length of field = 0? Data was not entered in the field Can you simply check if length = 0 for checking if a field was modified? No, not if ERASE EOF was used. What do you do if you do not want characters entered by the user to be folded to uppercase ? Use ASIS option on RECEIVE. What does the BUFFER option in RECEIVE mean ? Brings the entire datastream from the terminal buffer. What are the steps you go through to a create a BMS executable? Assemble to create CSECT and Link When you compile a CICS program, the (pre)compiler puts an extra chunk of code. Where does it get included and that is it called? What is its length? DFHEIBLK, DFHCOMMAREA. List all the CICS tables and explain their contents. PPT SIT PCT JCT FCT SNT DCT SRT RCT TCT I have written a CICS program. What tables should I setup to run this program? PPT, PCT, (FCT, DCT, RCT (if needed)). In which table would you make an entry for a BMS map? PPT What is the content of the PPT entry? Length, Source, Use count, Lang, Res count DFHRPL number For a CICS-DB2 program, how is the plan referenced? Uses a RCT table. How is dynamic memory allocated within a CICS application program? Use a GETMAIN What are the restrictions while using GETMAIN and FREEMAIN? What is the use of a TDQ, TSQ? Temporary data stores. How do you read from a TSQ? Temp storage read command If I create a TSQ from one transaction, can I read it from another transaction? Yes. As long as they run in the same region. What are extra partition & intra partition TDQs? Extra partition TDQs are datasets used for communication b n CICS and other CICS/B atch regions. Intrapartition TDQs are queues for communication within regn.

What is trigger level in the context of TDQs? For intrapartition TDQs specify the # records at which ATI happens. not applicab le for extra partition TDQs. How do you fire a batch job from a CICS txn ? Define an extrapartition TDQ as an internal reader and write the JCL to it. Term inate the JCL with /*EOF. What is ATI? What kind of TDQ can be used? Automatic Task Initiation. Intra partition TDQ. Do you require a table entry for a TSQ? If recovery is needed. Overview:CICS Interview Questions. CICS Questions. Frequently Asked CICS Questio ns in Job Interview. CICS Technical Interviews Questions Which is the EIB field that gives the date when a task was started ? When you compile a CICS program? What option is specified in the SEND command What is the process of converting the CICS commands into the equivalent host language statements called? What is the meaning and use of the EIBAID field? What is the error condition that is set when the file specified in the NAME opti on is not in the FCT? What is the difference between physical map and symbolic map? What is the content of the PPT entry? What is the command for reading a record form a TSQ? What is the access method used by DB2? What is MDT? What is Communication Area ? What is an ASRA abend ? What is a cursor in CICS SQL processing? What do you do if you do not want characters entered by the user to be folded to uppercase ? What are the two outputs created as a result of generation of a map? What are the differences between and EXEC CICS XCTL and an EXEC CICS LINK comman d? What are extra partition and intra partition TDQs?

The error code AEIV ? Native Mode Data Stream (NMDS) is a mixture of Buffer Control Characters (BCC) a nd text data (True or Fals)? List all the CICS tables and explain their contents.? In order to display a formatted screen How To SET MDT ( Modified Data Tag ) Thru Application Program ? (Dynamically) ? How is addressability achieved to the data outside programs working storage? How do you handle errors in CICS programs? How do you access storage outside your CICS program? Explain the various ways data can be passed between CICS programs. Do you require a table entry for a TSQ? Can you use OCCURS in a BMS map? If you do, what are the issues related with its use Can we define an alternate index on VSAM/RRDS? Why is a TERM ID recommended in naming a TSQ? Which is the macro used for making an entry in the PPT When you do a START, what will the value of EIBCALEN What other file control processing commands are used for file updating? What is the purpose of the Program List Table? What is the meaning of BMS length of field = 0 ? ? What is the EXEC CICS HANDLE ABEND? What is the difference between pseudo-conversational and conversational? What is the difference between a PF key and a PA key? What is the command that is used to add a new record to the file? What is the attribute byte? What is MDT? What are FSET, FRSET? What is DFHEIBLK ? What is an ASRA? What is a deadlock? What does EIB mean ? What are the two types of transient data queues?

What are the differences between and EXEC CICS XCTL and EXEC CICS START command? What are the 3 common ways to create maps ? The first step in the development of an application system is the Requirement Analysis (True or False). ? NMDS is both device dependent and format dependent ( True or False ) List the sequence of steps used to achieve Modiication in Skip Sequential Mode In SYMBOLIC Cursor Positioning after moving How will you access a VSAM file using an alternate index ? How is dynamic memory allocated within a CICS application program? How do you intitiate another transaction? How do you access the records randomly in TSQ ? For a CICS-DB2 program, how is the plan referenced? Explain floating maps with illustration. CICS and DB2 can exist in the same region under the Operating system ( True or False)? Can you access ESDS files from CICS? Why is it important not to execute a STOP RUN in CICS Tags:Mainframe CICS Interview Questions asked in companies like IBM ,HP,Dell.Lat est Frequently Asked CICS Interview Questions and their Answers Is there any entry for TSQs in CICS tables? Yes in the DFHTST. What is the use of DCT? Destination Control Table used to define TDQs What is ENQ, DEQ ? Task control commands to make resources serially reusable. Can you issue SQL COMMIT from a CICS program? Yes. What is the other way of terminating a transaction? EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT. Assuming it is a LUW. This will not end the Xn. What is an ASRA abend ? Any data exception problem SOC7, SOC4 etc. What is an AEY9 abend ? DB2/IDMS not up. What are the situations under which NEWCOPY is required ? When a program has been used in CICS atleast once and then changed and recompile

d. What is 2 phase commit? What is EXEC CICS RETRIEVE ? Used by STARTed tasks to get the parameters passed to them. Name some important fields in the EIB block ? EIBRESP, EIBCALEN, EIBRRCDE, EIBTASK, EIBDATE, EIBTIME Can you use DYNAMIC calls in CICS ? Yes, the called routine must be defined in PPT and the calling program must use CALL identifier.. How do you handle errors in CICS pgms ? Check EIBRESP after the call or use the HANDLE condition. Suppose pgm A passes 30 bytes to pgm B thru commarea and pgm B has defined its D FHCOMMAREA to be 50 bytes . Is there a problem ? Yes, if B tries to access bytes 31-50. When an XCTL is done, does the tranid change ? Is a new task created ? Does it c ause an implicit SYNCPOINT to be issued ? No, No, Yes. How do you execute a background CICS txn ? With a START or ATI. How do you handle error in a CICS program? Same as 36. What is the difference between START and XCTL ? START is used to start a new task. It is a interval control command. XCTL is use d to pass control to a program within the same task. It is a program control com mand. What is the usage of language in the PPT entry? Language interface and call parameters??? Can you have CICS code in a copybook? If yes, what happens during compilation? Yes. Needs to be preprocessed. What is an AICA abend? Runaway Task. How would you resolve an ASRA abend? In COBOL II start with CEBR, and get the offset/instruction. I invoke a transaction from CICS. The program has a code: MOVE DFHCOMMAREA TO WS -AREA. What happens to this transaction? What happens to the other transactions? Junk may get moved in. Will cause Storage violation. When you do a START, what will the value of EIBCALEN? Zero. How are VSAM files Read in CICS pgms? File Control Commands. Random, Sequential, forward and backward. How will you access a VSAM file using an alternate index? Thru the path. Define path as an FCT and use normal File control commands.

How do you rollback data written to an ESDS file? Define the file as recoverable. in cases where records have been inserted into t he file, you may need to run a batch program to logically delete the inserted re cords. I have done a START BROWSE on a VSAM dataset. Can I do another START BROWSE with out doing an END BROWSE? No. Can you access QSAM (seq ) files from CICS ? No. Can you access ESDS files from CICS ? Yes. What is CICS ? CICS - Customer Information Control System CICS is a telecommunications monitor software product from IBM. The IBM mainfram e operating systems are batch and time-sharing. CICS supports the development an d execution of online applications. It does this by communicating with terminals and sending and receiving fomatted data.- accessing files and database CICS itself is batch job running on the operating system with high priority. CIC S does scheduling of programs that run under the CICS region. IBM CICS Frequently Asked Interview Questions , below are some important CICS In terview Questions that are generally asked in any CICS Interview in MNCs Q1 - What is MDT ? Ans - Bit in the attribute byte indicating modification of field on screen.If th e user keys in any data into the field, it turns the MDT ON indicating that the data is modified. To save transmission time , 3270 terminal sends a field over t he TC line only if the MDT is on. Otherwise, the field value is not transmitted. Q2 - What is DFHCOMMAREA ? Ans - DFHCOMMAREA in the Linkage section is used to pass the data in working sto rage commarea from one to program to another program. It should be defined with as at least one byte long. As the working storage section is freshly allocated f or every execution. Q3- What is Execution Interface Block (EIB) ? Ans - EIB is a CICS area that contains information related to the current task, which can be used for debugging the program. The most widely used variables are EIBDATE, EIBTIME, EIBAID, EIBCALEN, EIBCPOSN, EIBRESP, EIBRSRCE (resource), EIBF N (recent CICS command code), EIBTRMID and EIBTRNID. Q4- What are the important tables used in the CICS-DB2 environment ? Ans - CICS manages it's communication with DB2 with special interface modules ca lled CICS/DB2 Attachment Facility. When a CICS program issues a SQL statement, C ICS requests the attachment facility to establish a connection with DB2 called a thread. The information about the CICS transaction and DB2 is entered in Resour ce Control Table (RCT). The plan information is referenced through the RCT Entri es. Q5- What are the various commands used to browse through a dataset ? Ans - STARTBR, READNEXT, READPREV and RESETBR. The options used are DATASET, RID FLD, RRN/RBA, GENERIC, and KEYLENGTH for the 3 commands, and INTO, LENGTH for RE ADNEXT and READPREV command, and EQUAL/GTEQ for STARTBR only. RESP can be used w

ith any. ENDBR is used to end the browse operation Q6- What is 2 phase commit ? Ans - It occurs when a programmer Issue's an Exec CICS Syncpoint command. This i s called a two phase Commit because CICS will first commit changes to the resour ces under its control like VSAM files, before DB2 changes are committed. Usually CICS signals DB2 to complete the next phase and release all the locks. Q7- What are ASRA,AICA,AEY9 abend ? Ans - ASRA - Any data exception problem SOC7, SOC4 etc AICA - Runaway Task. AEY9 - DB2/IDMS Database is not up. Q8 What are the differences between TSQ and a TDQ ? Ans (1) In Temporary Storage Queues Data is read randomly, While in Transient Data Q ueues data must be read sequentially. (2) In a TSQ data can be read any number of times as it remains in the queue unt il the entire Queue is deleted. In TDQ data item can be read once only. To reuse the TDQ it must be closed and reopened. (3) Data can be changed in TSQ, but not in TDQ. (4) TSQ can be written to Auxiliary or Main Storage, while TDQ is written to Dis k. Temporary storage is a holding place, while Transient data is always associat ed with destination. The (5) TSQ name is defined dynamically, while a TDQ name need to be defined in the DCT. Note: An application uses TSQ 's to pass info' from task to task, while a T DQ to accumulate records before processing or send data for external use, such a s a print operation or other. Q9- What are Extra partition & Intra partition TDQs ? Ans - Extra-partition TDQ's are datasets used for communication between CICS and other CICS/Batch regions. Intra-partition TDQ's are queues for communication wi thin CICS region. CICS stores the Intra-partition TDQ in a dataset 'DFHNTRA' on the Disk. Extra-partition TDQ doesn't have to be a disk file, it can reside on a ny device that's a valid QSAM/VSAM. The DCT entry contains the destination-Id, t ype of TDQ, Destination, Trigger level if needed Q10 How is an Abend handled in a CICS program ? Ans - The HANDLE ABEND command is used to trap and Handle errors. It has 4 possi ble options and only one of them can be used with this command at a time. The op tions are Program(...) to transfer control to the program, Label(...) to transfe r control to the specified paragraph, Cancel option keeps the earlier Handle Abe nds from being executed. Reset option will reactivate the Handle Abend commands, which were previously cancelled. Q11 What is Quasi-reentrancy ? Ans - There are times when many users are concurrently using the same program, t his is what we call Multi-Threading. For example, 50 users are using program A, CICS will provide 50 Working storage for that program but one Procedure Division . And this technique is known as quasi-reentrancy. Mainframe CICS Questions CICS Technical Interview Questions 1. What is the meaning for CICS? Customer Information Control System. 2. What do we do by using CICS? CICS is normally used for Real-time or Online processing when that particular pr ocessing cannot wait for batch processing normally done at the end of the day fo

r most installations. 3. What are the eight steps for a CICS program development? Get the complete specification Get related sourcebooks and subprograms Design the program Update the CICS Tables Code and compile the map definition Code the program Compile the program Test the program. 4. In a CICS development, do you compile the map or program first? The map needs to be compiled first. 5. What is a transaction id or code? A transaction is mostly a four letter unique predefined unit of work, a terminal work will use to invoke a specific map and the associated program. 6. What is a PCT and how it is used? A PCT is a short name for Program Control Table, which contains the trans-id and the associated program which will be invoked when the trans-id is used. 7. What is a PPT and how it is used? A PPT contains a valid list of program names and it also indicates the storage a ddress if the program has already been loaded. CICS uses PPT to determine whethe r it will load a new copy of the program if the program is invoked. 8. Have you ever heard of SNT in CICS Processing? Yes, it contains the names of all valid users of the system. 9. What is the use of DFHCOMMAREA and where it is located? It helps to transfer data between two transactions and it is located in the LINK AGE SECTION. 10. Are you familiar with CEMT and CSMT functions? What does these transactions do for you? These are normally supervisory functions, where they can be used to cancel tasks running at a different terminals. CSMT is used to update PPT. But I never had m uch chance to use them. 11. What transaction will you use to debug a CICS Program? CEDF, which means CICS Execution Diagnostic facility. 12. What XCTL and LINK command is used for? XCTL command transfers control to another program without setting up a return me chanism whereas the LINK command transfers control to next logical lower level w ith a return mechanism 13. Why the EXEC CICS HANDLE command is used? It is used to specify what action the program needs to take when certain excepti onal conditions occur. 14. Why the EXEC CICS RETURN command is used? It is used simply to return control to CICS with no option and the terminal sess ion ends. 15. What are the parameters will you use to code a SEND MAP command? SEND MAP(name of the map) MAPSET(name of the mapset which contains the specific map)

FROM(specifies the symbolic map) MAPONLY(specifies dataonly needs to be sent) DATAONLY(specifies that only data from the symbolic map needs to be sent) ERASE/ERASEUP CURSOR 16. How do you terminate each CICS commands? EXEC CICS intermediate commands END-EXEC. 17. How do you obtain the storage dump from CICS? CICS automatically adds the storage dump to a special file called dump data set. When the CICS is terminated, the dumps are automatically printed. The DSN can b e found from the respective installation personnel. 18. What is the meaning for AEI9 CICS abend? MAPFAIL. 19. What are the following entities represent? EIBAID It is an one character field that indicates which attention key was used for the last RECEIVE command. EIBTRMID This field supplies the name of the terminal running the task. EIBCALEN This field represents the length of the communication area passed to my program. If no commarea is passed, it is set to zero. 20. How do you logoff from a CICS transaction? Blank the screen, then type CSSF LOGOFF.