CICS Interview Questions 1

Question: what are the differences between DFHCOMMAREA and TSQ ?

Answer :Both are used to save data among tasks. But

1. COMMAREA is private to that transaction only . like every transaction has its
own COMMAREA created by CICS as soon as the transaction is initiated
.however TSQ , if queue id is known can be accessed by other transactions
also

2. COMMAREA length is s9(4) comp i.e. 64k .But TSQ can have any
length.

3. COMMAREA is available only during the transaction is running. TSQ
if created with auxiliary option resides in aux memory and available even if
main memory crashes.

4.normally COMMAREA is used to transfer data from one
task to another while tsq is used widely within the task as a scratch pad.

Question: How can you accomplish breakpoint in intertest?

Answer :U-for unconditional breakpoint, C-for conditional breakpoint, and A-for automatic breakpoint.

Question: what is difference between call and link ?
Answer :In case of call , whenever you do changes to the
called program you need to compile the calling program also. In case of link
, it is not needed .

Question: Which is the program which determines whether a transaction should be restarted ? Answer :DTB

Question: The EIB field which gives the last CICS command executed is ?

Answer :EIBRCODE

Question: If no exception handling is provided in the program, what will happen ?

Answer :CICS will take the default action specified for the condition.

Question: Which is the macro used for making an entry in the PPT ?

Answer :DFHPPT

Question: What is the error condition that is set when the file specified in the NAME option is not in the FCT?
Answer :PGMIDERR

Question: Why is it important not to execute a STOP RUN in CICS ?

Answer :Stop run will come out from the CICS region.

Question: Why must all CICS programs have a Linkage Section ?

Answer :To pass parameters from appl. Program to CICS.

Question: What is the CICS LOAD command?

Answer :The LOAD command retrieves an object program from disk and loads it into main storage - it's primarily used for a constant table that will be available system-wide.

Question: What is the ABEND command and when would you use it?

Answer :The ABEND command forces a task to end abnormally. It creates a transaction dump and invokes the dynamic transaction backout.

Question: What are the two outputs created as a result of generation of a map?

Answer :The map copybook(Symbolic map) and the load module(physical map).

Question: Why doesn't CICS use the Cobol Open and Close statements ?

Answer :CICS automatically opens & closes the files those are used in the program.

Question: If you use the OPTIMIZE compiler option the size of the program can be reduced by 5
to 10%(True or False)?

Answer :TRUE

Question: What is the attribute byte?(MAPS)

Answer :Defines the display/transmission of field. Most cases is an output field from the
program

Question: which CICS defined field can you determine the position of the cursor on the map ? Answer :ATTRIB FIELD FCT