Question 1

Explain the basic difference between Intra partition TDQ and Extra partition TDQ?

Accepted Answer

INTRA PARTITION TD QUEUE : It is a goup of sequential records which are produced by the same and / or different transaction within a CICS region These Qs are stored in only one physical file (VSAM) in a CICS region, which is prepared by the system programmer Once a record is read from a queue, the record will be logically removed from the queue EXTRA PARTITION TD QUEUE: It is a group of sequential record which interface between the transaction s of the CICS region and the systems outside of CICS region Each of there TDQs is a separate physical file, and it may be on the disk, tap, printer or plotter

Question 2

Which CICS service transaction is used to gain accessibility to CICS control tables? Mention the one that has the highest priority?

Accepted Answer

CEDA

Question 3

What is the CICS LOAD command ?

Accepted 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 4

What is ENQ in CICS ?

Accepted Answer

If any one want to restrict Trans-ID to single user, enter trans-id with ENQ It won't allow any one else to use the same trans-id

Question 5

Name some of the common tables in CICS and their usage?

Accepted Answer

PCT (Program Control Table) - Defines each transaction containing a list of valid transaction identifiers (transid) where each transaction is paired with its matching program PPT (Program Processing Table) - Contains a list of valid program names and maps and whether a current version is in the CICS region or needs to be brought in as a new copy FCT (File Control Table) - Contains a list of files known to CICS, the dataset name and status (closed/open, enable/disabled) TCT (Terminal Control Table)- A list of the terminals known to CICS

Question 6

What CICS command do you need to obtain the user logon-id?

Accepted Answer

You must code EXEC CICS ASSIGN with the OPENID option

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

EIBRCODE

Question 8

Specify the CICS command used to read a VSAM record starting with prefix F. Code all the relevant options?

Accepted Answer

EXEC CICS READ DATASET('FILENAME') INTO(data-area) RIDFLD(data-area) KEYLENGTH(1) GENERIC LENGTH(WK-LEN) END-EXEC

Question 9

How do you define a sort file in JCL that runs the COBOL program?

Accepted Answer

Use the SORTWK01, SORTWK02, dd names in the step Number of sort datasets depends on the volume of data being sorted, but a minimum of 3 is required

Question 10

What are different file OPEN modes available in COBOL?

Accepted Answer

Open for INPUT, OUTPUT, I-O, EXTEND 1INPUT : for read only purpose 2OUTPUT : for write only purpose 3EXTEND : for appending records 4I-O : for read and write(using EXTEND) purpose

Question 11

How do you sort in a COBOL program? Give sort file definition, sort statement syntax and meaning.

Accepted Answer

Syntax: SORT file-1 ON ASCENDING/DESCENDING KEY key USING file-2 GIVING file-3 USING can be substituted by INPUT PROCEDURE IS para-1 THRU para-2 GIVING can be substituted by OUTPUT PROCEDURE IS para-1 THRU para-2 file-1 is the sort workfile and must be described using SD entry in FILE SECTION file-2 is the input file for the SORT and must be described using an FD entry in FILE SECTION and SELECT clause in FILE CONTROL file-3 is the outfile from the SORT and must be described using an FD entry in FILE SECTION and SELECT clause in FILE CONTROL file-1, file-2 & file-3 should not be opened explicitly INPUT PROCEDURE is executed before the sort and records must be RELEASEd to the sort work file from the input procedure OUTPUT PROCEDURE is executed after all records have been sorted Records from the sort work file must be RETURNed one at a time to the output procedure

Question 12

What are the steps you go through while creating a COBOL program executable?

Accepted Answer

DB2 precompiler (if embedded sql used), CICS translator (if CICS program), COBOL compiler, Link editor If DB2 program, create plan by binding the DBRMs

Question 13

In the JCL, how do you define the files referred to in a subroutine ?

Accepted Answer

Supply the DD cards just as you would for files referred to in the main program

Question 14

What COBOL construct is the COBOL II EVALUATE meant to replace?

Accepted Answer

EVALUATE can be used in place of the nested IF THEN ELSE statements

Question 15

What divisions, sections and paragraphs are mandatory for a COBOL program?

Accepted Answer

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION and PROGRAM-ID paragraph are mandatory for a compilation error free COBOL program

Question 16

What are the differences between COBOL and COBOL II?

Accepted Answer

There are some differences: COBOL II supports structured programming by using in line Performs and explicit scope terminators It introduces new features (EVALUATE, SET TO TRUE, CALL BY CONTEXT, etc) It permits programs to be loaded and addressed above the 16-megabyte line It does not support many old features (READY TRACE, REPORT-WRITER, ISAM, etc) It offers enhanced CICS support

Question 17

What guidelines should be followed to write a structured COBOL program ?

Accepted Answer

Following guidelines to be following while writing Cobol program: - Use ? EVALUATE ? statement for constructing cases - Use scope terminators for nesting - Use in-line Perform statement for writing ?do? constructions - Use Test Before and Test After in the Perform statement while writing Do-While statements

Question 18

What is autostatus in IDMS?

Accepted Answer

Autostatus is a protocol mode which causes the expansion of each DML statement to include a 'perform IDMS-Status' statement

Question 19

How does IDMS communicate with CICS?

Accepted Answer

They communicate via service MVS request calls

Question 20

What is an OOK-Rec in IDMS?

Accepted Answer

An OOK-Rec is a one of a kind record set, used to get to another record set

Technology Questions