CICS Interview Questions

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CICS Interview Questions

• What is CICS?
• What are the six different type of argument values in COBOL that can be placed in various options of a CICS command?
• Kindly specify the PIC clause for the following:
• Specify CICS transaction initiation process.
• List the sequence of steps used to achieve Modiication in Skip Sequential Mode
• Specify the requirements for Automatic Task Initiation
• What are the commands used to gain exclusive control over a resource
• What is the EIB parameter and the CICS command used to implement ...
• Mention the 5 fields available in the symbolic map for every ...
• What are the two ways of breaking a CPU bound process to allow other task to gain access to CPU.
• How do you intitiate another transaction?
• Mention the option used in a CICS command to retrieve ...
• What is the CICS command used to access current date and time?
• Into what fields will the date and time values be moved after execution of the above command ?
• How do you terminate an already issued DELAY command?
• How do you dynamically set the CURSOR position to a specific field?
• Which option of the PCT entry is used to specify the PF key ...
• Specify the CICS command used to read a VSAM record starting ...
• Mention the option used in the CICS READ command to gain ...
• Which command is used to release a record on which exclusive control is gained?
• How do you establish a starting position in a browse operation?
• What is the option specified in the read operation ...
• What is the CICS command that gives the length of TWA area?
• What are the attribute values of Skipper and Stopper fields?
• How do you set the MDT option to ON status, even if data is not entered?
• What option is specified in the SEND command ...
• Which CICS service transaction is used to gain accessibility to ...
• What is the most common way of building queue-id of a TSQ ?
• Into which table is the terminal id registered?
• How and where is the TWA size set?
• Which transient data queue support ATI?
• Code the related portions of CICS COBOL-I programs to gain addressability ...
• Code a program meeting the following requirements.
• What does Pseudo Conversational mean?
• Explain the means of supporting pseudo conversation programming
• What is the function of the CICS translator ?
• How can you start a CICS transaction other than by keying the Transaction ID at the terminal ?
• What is the purpose of the Program List Table?
• What are the differences between and EXEC CICS XCTL and EXEC CICS START command?
• What are the differences between and EXEC CICS XCTL and an EXEC CICS LINK command?
• What happens to resources supplied to a transaction when an XCTL command is executed ?
• What CICS command do you need to obtain the user logon-id?
• What is a resident program ?
• What is EIB, How is can be used?
• What is some of the information available in the EIB area?
• What information can be obtained from the EIBRCODE ?
• What is the effect of including the TRANSID in the EXEC CICS RETURN command?
• Explain how to handle exceptional conditions in CICS.
• What is the function of the EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDITION command?
• How many conditions can you include in a single HANDLE CONDITION command?
• What is the EXEC CICS HANDLE ABEND?
• What is the difference between EXEC CICS HANDLE CONDTION and an EXEC CICS IGNORE command?
• What happens when a CICS command contains the NOHANDLE option?
• When a task suspends all the handle conditions via the PUSH command ...
• Explain re-entrancy as applies to CICS.
• What are the CICS commands available for program control?
• How is addressability achieved to the data outside programs working storage?
• Explain the various ways data can be passed between CICS programs.
• What is the difference between using the READ command with INTO option and SET option?
• Can we define an alternate index on VSAM/RRDS?
• What is the difference between the INTO and the SET option in the EXEC CICS RECEIVE MAP command?
• How to establish dynamic cursor position on a map?
• What is MDT?
• What are the three ways available for a program to position the cursor on the screen?
• Name three ways the Modified Data Tag can be set on ?
• What is a mapset?
• What is the function of DFHMDF BMS macro?
• Why is a TERM ID recommended in naming a TSQ?
• Explain the basic difference between Intra partition TDQ and Extra partition TDQ.
• What are the differences between Temporary Storage Queue (TSQ) and Transient Data Quene (TDQ)?
• What is the differences between getting the system time with EIBTIME and ASKTIME command ?
• What does the following transactions do ?
• Explain floating maps with illustration.
• What is the function of the Terminal Control Table (TCT) ?
• What does it mean when EIBCALEN is equal to zeros?
• How can the fact that EIBCALEN is equal to zeros be of use to an application programmer?
• Which CICS system program is responsible for handling automatic task initialization?
• How can you prevent more than one user from accessing the same Transient Data Queue ?
• When an apllication is invoked via the EXEC CICS START command ...
• The DFHCOMMARA is used to pass information from one application to another
• How do you define Task Work Area?
• What information do you get when an EXEC CICS STARTCODE is issued?
• Which CICS command must be issued by the application program
• In which CICS table would you specify the length of the TASK WORK AREA (TWA)?
• What is a deadlock?
• Explain the term Transaction routing?
• Explain the term Function Request Shipping?
• Explain the term "MRO" (Multi Region Operation)?
• What are different system tables used in CICS?
• What is multitasking and multithreading?
• What is the difference between link Xctl?
• Name some of the common tables in CICS and their usage.
• Name some common CICS service programs and explain their usage?
• What is meant by a CICS task?
• What is meant by program reentrance?
• What is the common systems area (CSA)?
• What is the COMMAREA (communications area)?
• What is the EIB (execute interface block)?
• What is an MDT ?
• What is a transid and explain the system transid CEMT?
• What is the common work area (CWA)?
• How do you access storage outside your CICS program?
• How does COBOL II and CICS release ...
• What is the meaning and use of the EIBAID field?
• How do you control cursor positioning?
• What are attribute bytes and how and why are they modified?
• How do you invoke other programs? What are the pros and cons of each method?
• What is BMS
• What is the difference between FSET and FRSET
• What is the difference between the enter key, the PF keys and the PA keys
• Explain the difference amonge the EXEC LINK
• Are sequential files supported by CICS
• hat option can be coded on the RETURN command to
• What is an ASRA?
• What is temporary storage?
• What is transient data?
• What are the two types of transient data queues?
• What are transient data sets defined to CICS?
• Once a transient data queue is read, can it be reread?
• Name some command used for CICS file browsing.
• What other file control processing commands are used for file updating?
• What is Journal Recovery and Dynamic Transaction Backout?
• What table must be update when adding a new transaction and program?
• What is the meaning of the SYNCPOINT command?
• What do the terms locality of reference and working set mean?
• What do the keywords MAPONLY and DATAONLY mean?
• What is the MASSINSERT option?
• What is a cursor in CICS SQL processing?
• What are the DB2 steps required to migrate a CICS DB2 program from source code to load module?
• Name some translator and compile options and explain their meaning?
• What is the significance of RDO?
• What is CECI?
• What is CEDF?
• What is CEBR?
• Name and explain some common CICS abend codes?
• What is a logical message in CICS?
• What are the CICS commands associated with transient data queue processing?
• What is the meaning of the ENQ and DEQ commands?
• How do you delete Item 3 in a five-item TSQ?
• What CICS command would you use to read a VSAM KSDS sequentially in ascending order?
• How do you get data from a task that began with a START command?
• What is interval control and what are some of the CICS commands associated with it?
• What is task control and what are the CICS commands associated with it?
• What is the CICS LOAD command?
• What is the ABEND command and when would you use it?
• DB2 What is the difference between a package and a plan
• How to build up LU 6.2 communication?
• Why is it important not to execute a STOP RUN in CICS
• Why must all CICS programs have a Linkage Section?
• A mapset consists of three maps and 10 fields on each map. How many of the following will be needed?
• How are programs reinitiated under CICS?
• Why doesn't CICS use the Cobol Open and Close statements?
• What is the difference between a Symbolic map and Physical map?
• Can a program change protected field?
• How is the stopper byte different from an auto byte?
• By which CICS defined field can you determine the position of the cursor on the map?
• How will you place cursor on a field called ...
• How do you place the cursor on a particular position on the screen?
• What are the two outputs created as a result of generation of a map?
• What is the difference between physical map and symbolic map?
• What is the attribute byte?
• How do you use extended attributes?
• What are the 3 working storage fields used for every field on the map?
• What is MDT? What are FSET, FRSET?
• What is the use of DSECT paramet?er in BMS
• Do you receive the attribute byte in the symbolic map
• How do you make your BMS maps case sensitive
• What is effect on RECEIVE MAP when PF key is pressed? PA key is pressed?
• What is the difference between a PF key and a PA key?
• Name the macros used to define the following: MAP MAPSET FIELD?
• Can you use OCCURS in a BMS map? If you do, what are the issues related with its use
• Can you define multiple maps in a BMS mapset
• How is the storage determined in the symbolic map, if you have multiple maps ?
• What is the meaning of BMS length of field = 0 ? ?
• Can you simpply check if length = 0 for checking if a field was modified ?
• What do you do if you do not want characters entered by the user to be folded to uppercase ?
• What does the BUFFER option in RECEIVE mean?
• What are the steps you go through to a create a BMS executable?
• When you compile a CICS program?
• List all the CICS tables and explain their contents.?
• I have written a CICS program? What tables should I setup to run this program ?
• In which table would you make an entry for a BMS map?
• What is the content of the PPT entry?
• For a CICS-DB2 program, how is the plan referenced?
• How is dynamic memory allocated within a CICS application program?
• What is the use of a TDQ, TSQ?
• How do you read from a TSQ?
• If I create a TSQ from one transaction, can I read it from another transaction?
• What are extra partition and intra partition TDQs?
• What is trigger level in the context of TDQs?
• How do you fire a batch job from a CICS transaction?
• What is ATI? What kind of TDQ can be used?
• Do you require a table entry for a TSQ?
• Is there any entry for TSQs in CICS tables?
• What is the use of DCT?
• What is ENQ, DEQ?
• Can you issue SQL COMMIT from a CICS program
• What is the other way of terminating a transaction
• What is an ASRA abend ?
• What is an AEY9 abend ?
• What are the situations under which NEW COPY is required?
• What is EXEC CICS RETRIEVE?
• Name some important fields in the EIB block?
• Can you use DYNAMIC calls in CICS?
• How do you handle errors in CICS programs?
• Suppose program A passes 30 bytes to program B ...
• When an XCTL is done, does the tranid change ?
• How do you execute a backgroound CICS transaction ?
• What is the difference between START and XCTL ?
• What is the usage of language in the PPT entry?
• Can you have CICS code in a copybook ? If yes, what happens during compilation
• What is an AICA abend ?
• How would you resolve an ASRA abend?
• I invoke a transaction from CICS ...
• When you do a START, what will the value of EIBCALEN
• How are VSAM files Read in CICS prograams
• How will you access a VSAM file using an alternate index ?
• How do you rollback data written to an ESDS file ?
• I have done a START BROWSE on a VSAM dataset
• Can you access QSAM (seq) files from CICS?
• Can you access ESDS files from CICS?
• In the CICS command level all the re-entrancy issues are handled by the System (True or False).?
• What are the thress BMS options?
• What are the beginning and end points of an LUW called?
• The DL/I database is a hierarchical database
• CICS Interview Questions
• The process of writting its own type of journal records by the application program
• In order to display a formatted screen
• Which is the CICS control program which governs the flow of control among the CICS application programs
• What is the option of the DFHDCT macro ...
• CICS and DB2 can exist in the same region under the Operating system ( True or False)?
• What is the name of the facility provided by CICS ...
• What is the command which will delete a program LOADed into the main storage using LOAD command ?
• Which is the option of the HANDLE AID command
• What is the name of the mapset definition macro?
• What is the access method used by DB2?
• What is the command that is used to add a new record to the file?
• What will happen when the resource security check ...
• What is the command used to send a map to a terminal?
• What is the command used to request notification when the specified time has expired?
• If DATAONLY option is specified in the SEND MAP command what will happen?
• What will happen if the TDQ that you want to delete is not in the DCT?
• The read of a record from an Intrapartition TDQ is not destructive (True or False) .
• An XCTL uses more CPU time than LINK (True or False) .
• What us the primary function of the Sign-on Table ?
• Native Mode Data Stream (NMDS) is a mixture of Buffer Control Characters (BCC) and text data (True or Fals)?
• When there are 2 records with the same key specified in a DELETE operation what will happen ?
• The application program that contain the SQL statements ...
• What are the databases that CICS can access ?
• The first step in the development of an application system is the Requirement Analysis (True or False). ?
• CICS provides an interface throough which the all the DL/I services can be used under CICS (True or False) ?
• How to get the sign-on user-id from an application program ?
• What is a Logical Unit of Work (LUW) ?
• Translation Time is not reduced if the Pre-compilcation is done first (True or False).
• What is the general Command format of CICS
• If you use the OPTIMIZE compiler option the size of the program can be reduced by 5 to 10% (True or False).
• For multithreading an apllication program need not be re-entrant(True or False).
• Before issuing an ASKTIME command what will be the values in the EIBDATE and EIBTIME fields if the EIB?
• What is the error condition that is set when the file specified in the NAME option is not in the FCT?
• CICS Interview Questions
• What are the various types of accesses that can be allowed by the SERVREQ option of the DFHFCT
• CICS system services provides an interface between CICS
• What are the parameters that you have to give when you are using the CSSN transaction?
• What is the command that is used to delay the processing of a task for a specified time interval or until a specified time?
• NMDS is both device dependent and format dependent ( True or False )
• Which is the EIB field that gives the date when a task was started ?
• Which is the AID that will not be identified in the ANYKEY option of the HANDLE AID command ?
• Reading a record from a TSQ will logically delete the record from the Queue (True or False).
• What is the option that is used to erase all unprotected field during a SEND MAP operation?
• What is the CICS command that is used to receive
• What is the command for reading a record form a TSQ?
• What will happen, if an out-of-range or negative value is specified in the LENGTH option of the SEND command?
• Which is the control table ...
• A HANDLE CONDITION remain active ...
• In the conversation mode the system waits ...
• Which is the macro used for making an entry in the PPT
• The goal of recovery process is to Maintain ...
• What is the primary objective of CICS ?
• If no exception handling is provided in the program, what will happen?
• What is the CICS supplied transaction which performs syntax checking of a CICS command?
• What is the process of converting the CICS commands into the equivalent host language statements called?
• What is the function of the LOAD command?
• What is the CICS Command that is used for reading a record from the TDQ?
• LENGERR, NOTAUTH and PGMIDERR
• Which of the following are recoverable CICS resources?
• Which is the program which determines whether a transaction should be restarted?
• What is the command used for receiving a map from a terminal?
• The mode of achieving conversation with the user ...
• Which is the command used for terminating a browse operation?
• What is the primary function of the Processing Program Table (PPT)?
• Sync points cannot be requested by the application programs (True or False).
• Which is the command that is used to dump the main storage areas related to a task?
• What is the CICS command that is used to copy a screen image of a terminal into another terminal?
• What is the name of the log which contain the information ...
• The EIB field which gives the last CICS command executed is
• The READ command with INTO option ...
• The attribute character is an visible ...
• What is the function of the Terminal Control table?
• Which is the CICS control program that provides communication services between user written application programs and terminals?
• CICS Command level is?
• TSQs can be written in the Main storage or Auxiliary storage ( True or False).
• What is difference between call and link ?
• What are the differences between DFHCOMMAREA and TSQ?
• What is Communication Area ?
• Which of the following statements correctly describe the syntax of CICS command language?
• A CICS program ABENDS with an ASRA ABEND code, What is its meaning ?
• Which of the following commands, when issued by 2 different programs running at the same time
• The map shown below is displayed with:
• How can you accomplish breakpoint in intertest ?
• How many ways are there for initiating a transaction ? what are they ?
• Which type of TDQ is read destructive ?
• The error code AEIV ?
• What is the size of commarea ?
• What is ASRAABEND in CICS ?
• What is a two Phase commit in CICS?
• Difference between TSQ and TDQ?
• What is ENQ in CICS?
• In SYMBOLIC Cursor Positioning after moving
• What does EIB mean ?
• How many exceptional condition can be given in a HANDLE CONDITION?
• How do you access the records randomly in TSQ ?
• What command do you issue to delete a record in a transient data queue ?
• What are different ways of initiating transaction in CICS ?
• What is the difference between LINK and XCTL ?
• What is the difference between CICS Program Control Table
• What are the 3 common ways to create maps ?
• What is Quasi-reentrancy ?
• What is the difference between a physical BMS mapset and a logical BMS mapset ?
• How To SET MDT ( Modified Data Tag ) Thru Application Program ? (Dynamically) ?
• What CICS facilities can you use to save data between the transactions?
• How would you release control of the record in a READ for UPDATE?
• What is the difference between a RETURN
• What will be the length of the eibcalen, if the transaction is used to CICS first time ?
• What is DFHEIBLK ?
• What is the difference between the XCTL and LINK commands ?
• What CICS command would you use to read a VSAM KSDS sequentially in ascending order?
• What is the difference between pseudo-conversational and conversational?
• What is the COMAERA (communication area)?
• CICS Questions List