Product Description

Join the more than 150,000 programmers who have learned CICS using our CICS books alone. Now, our two-part CICS for the COBOL Programmer has been revised into a single volume that meets today’s need for fast-paced training. You get all the commands and features that are current today—plus, new chapters on creating web or component-based programs—in just 630, information-packed pages. You’ll start off with the basics that you need for every CICS program you write:

how to use basic mapping support (BMS) to define the screens your programs use pseudo-conversational programming...what it is, why you have to use it, and how it complicates the logic in a COBOL program

the CICS commands for terminal handling, VSAM file handling, and program control

how to design a CICS program using event-driven design so it’s easier to code, test, debug, and maintain

how and when to use temporary storage queues instead of the communication area to pass data between program executions

how to use IBM-supplied transactions like CEMT, CECI, and CEDF to simplify testing and debugging

Then, you’ll see the design and code for a complete application consisting of four interrelated CICS programs…a great way to solidify your new CICS skills.

But that’s not all. You’ll also learn about the commands and techniques you need for special purposes. Like processing VSAM files sequentially. Accessing records by an alternate index. Handling DB2 data (this chapter assumes you already know DB2, so if you need some training, please see our DB2 books on pages 5-6). Scheduling a task for execution. Using the error recovery features that come into play when a task or CICS abends. Using the intercommunication features of CICS, including Distributed Program Link and EXCI, so that resources can be shared across remote systems. Handling outdated code as you maintain older programs.

Beyond the commands and coding features, however, there are two chapters of special interest for creating new applications:

how to design and code programs in which the presentation logic (the code that handles the interaction with the user at a terminal) is separated from the business logic (the code that processes the data)…This makes it feasible to create programs with front-ends in languages like Java or Visual Basic, leaving CICS on the back-end to do what it does best: process transactions

how to design and code CICS programs for the web (probably the most compelling reason for separating the presentation logic from the business logic)

So if you’re new to CICS, you’ll learn the best development techniques as well as all the coding details for creating today’s applications. If you have some CICS experience, you’ll add to your skills in record time. Either way, you’ll gain an understanding of CICS that makes it easier handle each new programming challenge. So get your copy of Murach’s CICS for the COBOL Programmer today!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30127 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 633 pages

From the Publisher
I’m delighted to announce a NEW, single-volume version of our CICS series, now entitled "Murach’s CICS for the COBOL Programmer." This is the material that’s trained more than 150,000 COBOL programmers to use CICS over the years, now thoroughly updated with the latest versions of CICS, along with new information that deals with the past (guidelines for maintaining CICS programs) and the future (an intro to component-based design and web programming with CICS). Beyond that, we’ve completely re-organized the book to meet today’s need for fast-paced training. Not only will you write your first CICS program sooner. But you’ll also get all the information in the paired-pages format that our customers like so well in our DB2, COBOL, and Visual Basic books. That makes the book ideal for reference, as well as training. In fact, you can’t find a more professionally-oriented CICS course anywhere, at any price.

Here’s what to expect from Murach’s CICS for the COBOL Programmer: Two books for the price of one We’ve combined our two-part CICS series into a single, streamlined volume that covers what you need to know in today’s CICS shop.

The latest versions of CICS This book now covers up through the latest versions of CICS, including CICS Transaction Server (yet it still includes what you need to know if you’re maintaining older, legacy systems).

A faster start 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.

The best program design techniques The requirements of pseudo-conversational programming makes CICS program design a challenge. Find out how to use event-driven design to keep your programs logical and easy to code.

Professional coding models 12 full programs and dozens of coding segments provide you with time-saving models to use in coding your own programs.

Paired pages for quick knowledge & reference All the information is presented in “paired pages,” with the essential details and examples on the right and the perspective on the left. You read less and learn faster!

A look at where CICS is headed Learn how to design, code, and test modular programs in which CICS is used for what it does best: transaction processing on the mainframe (then, other languages like Java or Visual Basic can be used for the user interface).

A real-world introduction to web programming See what’s involved in developing CICS applications for the Internet. Here again, IBM is providing ways for CICS to be used for the business logic while other languages are used for the user interface.

Here’s how we present CICS in this book: Section 1: Get started right Begin with the essential CICS concepts and terms, then see how all the pieces of a CICS program work together.

Section 2: Start developing your own CICS programs Here you’ll learn how to design, code, and test any CICS program. That includes learning how to create the BMS mapset that defines the user interface.

Section 3: Other features you’ll use regularly Temporary storage queues, data editing routines, terminal handling techniques, error processing routines, debugging tools, and more!

Section 4: A complete CICS application Specs, design, BMS mapsets, symbolic maps, and complete CICS/COBOL listings for the interrelated programs in an invoicing application.

Section 5: File and database handling This section presents special-purpose features for handling VSAM files and teaches how to process DB2 data in CICS programs.

Section 6: Advanced CICS features and skills Find out about other CICS control features…CICS intercommunication features…Old code you may run into during maintenance…How to design and code programs for web-based and distributed applications.

About the Author
Raul Menendez, co-author of our new CICS book as well as our structured COBOL book, brings a wealth of programming experience to the job. For the last 10 years, he's worked as a programmer, project manager, and systems consultant on COBOL/CICS/DB2 jobs in both IBM and Unix environments...jobs that range from designing and implementing new systems to enhancing and maintaining old ones.

Customer Reviews

For anyone wanting to learn CICS programming
Murach's CICS For The Cobol Programmer is a complete training manual for CICS so well written and presented that the novice will rapidly become proficient in designing, coding, and testing CICS programs. All the features programmers use regularly on the job are featured including those for VSAM file handling, editing input data, controlling the display of data at a terminal, DB2 data access, error processing, and debugging. Programmers are also provided with an overview of how CICS can be used for web-based applications, including the design and coding considerations involved. Murach's distinctive and "learner friendly" paired-pages style is followed throughout with the illustrations and crucial coding details for a single feature or function on the right-hand page, while the left-hand page offers extra explanation and perspective. Murach's CICS For The Cobol Programmer is a "must" for anyone wanting to learn CICS programming and operation.

Learn to write good Command Level CICS applications fast!
CICS for the COBOL Programmer is an update to Murach's two volume CICS set utilizing their "paired page" format that makes the material incredibly easy to read and use. The intended audience is experienced COBOL programmers who need to learn Command Level CICS programming, from basic concepts to writing moderately complex applications quickly.

The first four sections introduce basic concepts and command syntax in a graduated style, so that at the conclusion the reader has been presented with all of the knowledge required to analyze the requirements, plan a structured design, and implement a moderately complex application consisting of several programs. The design techniques utilized incorporate the top-down structured approach that is most widely practiced in real world environments and is identical to that employed in Murach's Structured COBOL. Techniques for debugging abends are also presented.

Chapters covering advanced file and database handling techniques follow the introductory sections. Advanced VSAM file handling presented includes browsing files and accessing VSAM files utilizing alternate indexes. An overview of working with DB2 databases is included, although developing proficiency in CICS/DB2 applications will most likely require acquisition of an advanced text concentrating on this specialized topic.

The final section presents advanced CICS features and commands, such as concurrent task management, inter-region communication, distributed processing, and modular application development, including development of Web enabled CICS applications. Information is also included which may be necessary to maintain older CICS code, which may use now obsolete coding techniques.

I am very pleased to see the addition of this title to Murach's catalog. It has troubled me that the textbook that I learned Command Level CICS from has been long out of print, along with a couple of additional introductory textbooks that I acquired across the years. Now there is a book available to recommend when I encounter someone who is trying to learn CICS.

This is going to be my desk-top CICS reference book
An uncluttered layout and clear text make this the best textbook I've read in a very long time. You can see the code (or list of command options or diagram) on the right page, and read the explanation of the command on the left page. It's much easier than going back and forth trying to find a code example.

I was looking to fill in gaps in my knowledge, so I liked the way each topic stands alone. You can just look up VSAM browses or SQL commands or MRO without having to read the chapters leading up to it. I'm going to use this as a reference book. It has everything I need.

It was funny that the last two chapters were one on using CICS with web browsers and another on obsolete terms, like BLL-CELLS. I guess it's a reminder that CICS is still a developing system and we have to keep our knowledge fresh!