What types of timers can be defined?

Timer types include one-shot timers (delay, deadline, event, trigger), recurring timers (periodic, scheduled, heartbeat, monitoring), conditional timers (conditional, threshold, state, resource), and system timers (system, maintenance, cleanup, backup).

How do I handle errors with CICS DEFINE TIMER?

Always check the response code and implement appropriate error handling, including validation of duplicate timers, proper handling of parameter errors, and resource cleanup on definition failures.

What is the purpose of timer definition?

Timer definition establishes time-based operations, configures execution intervals, sets repeat counts, and prepares timers for scheduling and execution in CICS applications.

When should I use CICS DEFINE TIMER?

Use this command when you need to define time-based operations, schedule recurring tasks, set up monitoring timers, or prepare timer-based workflows in CICS applications.

CICS DEFINE TIMER - Timer Definition and Configuration

Q: What is CICS DEFINE TIMER command used for?

CICS DEFINE TIMER is used to define timers, configure timer parameters, and set up timer definitions in CICS applications for time-based operations and scheduling.

CICS DEFINE TIMER provides timer definition and configuration capabilities in CICS environments. It enables programs to define timers, configure timer parameters, and set up timer definitions for CICS applications.

What is CICS DEFINE TIMER?

CICS DEFINE TIMER is a command that allows programs to define timers, configure timer parameters, and set up timer definitions in CICS environments. It provides timer definition capabilities, parameter configuration, and timer setup for CICS applications.

Command Syntax

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EXEC CICS DEFINE TIMER
    TIMERID(timer-id)
    [DESCRIPTION(description-text)]
    [INTERVAL(interval-value)]
    [REPEAT(repeat-count)]
    [RESP(response-code)]
END-EXEC

Parameters

Required Parameters

TIMERID - Unique identifier for the timer

Optional Parameters

DESCRIPTION - Descriptive text for the timer
INTERVAL - Time interval for timer execution
REPEAT - Number of times the timer should repeat
RESP - Response code variable

Timer Types

One-Shot Timers

Timers that execute once and then stop

• DELAY TIMERS - Timers that execute after a specific delay
• DEADLINE TIMERS - Timers that execute at a specific deadline
• EVENT TIMERS - Timers that execute when specific events occur
• TRIGGER TIMERS - Timers that execute when triggered

Recurring Timers

Timers that execute repeatedly at intervals

• PERIODIC TIMERS - Timers that execute at regular intervals
• SCHEDULED TIMERS - Timers that execute on a schedule
• HEARTBEAT TIMERS - Timers that provide regular heartbeat signals
• MONITORING TIMERS - Timers that monitor system status

Conditional Timers

Timers that execute based on conditions

• CONDITIONAL TIMERS - Timers that execute when conditions are met
• THRESHOLD TIMERS - Timers that execute when thresholds are reached
• STATE TIMERS - Timers that execute based on system state
• RESOURCE TIMERS - Timers that execute based on resource availability

System Timers

Timers that manage system operations

• SYSTEM TIMERS - Timers that manage system-level operations
• MAINTENANCE TIMERS - Timers that trigger maintenance operations
• CLEANUP TIMERS - Timers that trigger cleanup operations
• BACKUP TIMERS - Timers that trigger backup operations

Programming Examples

Basic Timer Definition

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. DEFINE01.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  TIMER-ID         PIC X(8) VALUE 'TIMER01'.
       01  DESCRIPTION     PIC X(50) VALUE 'Data Processing Timer'.
       01  INTERVAL        PIC 9(6) VALUE 30000.
       01  REPEAT-COUNT    PIC 9(3) VALUE 1.
       01  RESPONSE-CODE   PIC S9(8) COMP.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS DEFINE TIMER
               TIMERID(TIMER-ID)
               DESCRIPTION(DESCRIPTION)
               INTERVAL(INTERVAL)
               REPEAT(REPEAT-COUNT)
               RESP(RESPONSE-CODE)
           END-EXEC
           
           IF RESPONSE-CODE = DFHRESP(NORMAL)
               DISPLAY 'Timer defined successfully'
           ELSE
               DISPLAY 'Failed to define timer'
           END-IF
           
           EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

Recurring Timer Definition

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. DEFINE02.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  TIMER-ID         PIC X(8) VALUE 'TIMER02'.
       01  DESCRIPTION     PIC X(50) VALUE 'Periodic Monitoring Timer'.
       01  INTERVAL        PIC 9(6) VALUE 60000.
       01  REPEAT-COUNT    PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.
       01  RESPONSE-CODE   PIC S9(8) COMP.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS DEFINE TIMER
               TIMERID(TIMER-ID)
               DESCRIPTION(DESCRIPTION)
               INTERVAL(INTERVAL)
               REPEAT(REPEAT-COUNT)
               RESP(RESPONSE-CODE)
           END-EXEC
           
           IF RESPONSE-CODE = DFHRESP(NORMAL)
               DISPLAY 'Recurring timer defined'
               DISPLAY 'Timer ID: ' TIMER-ID
               DISPLAY 'Interval: ' INTERVAL
               DISPLAY 'Repeat: ' REPEAT-COUNT
           ELSE
               DISPLAY 'Failed to define recurring timer'
           END-IF
           
           EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

Error Handling with Timer Definition

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. DEFINE03.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  TIMER-ID         PIC X(8) VALUE 'TIMER03'.
       01  DESCRIPTION     PIC X(50) VALUE 'System Maintenance Timer'.
       01  INTERVAL        PIC 9(6) VALUE 3600000.
       01  REPEAT-COUNT    PIC 9(3) VALUE 24.
       01  RESPONSE-CODE   PIC S9(8) COMP.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS DEFINE TIMER
               TIMERID(TIMER-ID)
               DESCRIPTION(DESCRIPTION)
               INTERVAL(INTERVAL)
               REPEAT(REPEAT-COUNT)
               RESP(RESPONSE-CODE)
           END-EXEC
           
           EVALUATE RESPONSE-CODE
               WHEN DFHRESP(NORMAL)
                   DISPLAY 'Timer defined successfully'
                   DISPLAY 'Timer ID: ' TIMER-ID
               WHEN DFHRESP(DUPRES)
                   DISPLAY 'Timer already exists'
               WHEN DFHRESP(INVREQ)
                   DISPLAY 'Invalid definition request'
               WHEN DFHRESP(TIMERERR)
                   DISPLAY 'Timer-specific error occurred'
               WHEN DFHRESP(PARAMERR)
                   DISPLAY 'Parameter error in definition'
               WHEN OTHER
                   DISPLAY 'Unexpected error occurred'
           END-EVALUATE
           
           EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

Timer Configuration

Interval Settings

• Short Intervals (1-60 seconds) - Quick operations that need frequent execution
• Medium Intervals (1-60 minutes) - Standard operations with moderate frequency
• Long Intervals (1-24 hours) - Operations that can be executed less frequently
• Custom Intervals - User-defined intervals based on specific requirements

Repeat Configuration

• Single Execution (1) - Timer executes once and stops
• Limited Repeats (2-100) - Timer executes a specific number of times
• Unlimited Repeats (0) - Timer continues executing indefinitely
• Conditional Repeats - Timer repeats based on specific conditions

Execution Configuration

• Immediate Start - Timer starts immediately upon definition
• Delayed Start - Timer starts after a specified delay
• Scheduled Start - Timer starts at a specific scheduled time
• Manual Start - Timer starts only when manually triggered

Monitoring Configuration

• Status Monitoring - Monitor timer execution status and state
• Performance Monitoring - Track timer execution performance
• Error Monitoring - Monitor errors in timer execution
• Audit Monitoring - Log and audit timer execution activities

Error Handling

Common Response Codes

DFHRESP(NORMAL) - Timer defined successfully
DFHRESP(DUPRES) - Timer already exists
DFHRESP(INVREQ) - Invalid definition request
DFHRESP(TIMERERR) - Timer-specific error
DFHRESP(PARAMERR) - Parameter error in definition
DFHRESP(DEFINEERR) - Definition-specific error

Performance Considerations

Definition Efficiency

• Optimize timer parameters - Use appropriate values for intervals and repeats
• Minimize definition overhead - Reduce the computational cost of timer definitions
• Use efficient definition patterns - Implement definition strategies that minimize resource usage
• Monitor definition performance - Track the performance impact of definition operations

Resource Impact

• Monitor resource usage - Track how definition operations consume system resources
• Optimize resource allocation - Ensure efficient allocation of resources for definitions
• Manage resource cleanup - Properly release resources after definition operations
• Track resource utilization - Monitor the overall resource consumption patterns

Best Practices

Timer Definition Best Practices

• Always check response codes
• Use appropriate definition parameters
• Implement proper error handling
• Set realistic interval values
• Use meaningful timer descriptions
• Optimize definition operations
• Clean up resources properly

Explain It Like I'm 5 Years Old

Think of CICS DEFINE TIMER like setting up an alarm clock:

• Alarm Name: "What to call your alarm" - The timer ID
• Instructions: "What the alarm does" - The description
• Time Interval: "How often it goes off" - The interval
• How Many Times: "How many times it rings" - The repeat count
• Setup: "Getting everything ready" - Defining the timer

Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Timer Definition

Create a program that defines a basic timer with standard parameters.

Exercise 2: Interval Configuration

Write a program that defines timers with different interval settings.

Exercise 3: Error Handling

Implement comprehensive error handling for timer definition failures and parameter errors.

CICS DEFINE TIMER - Timer Definition and Configuration

What is CICS DEFINE TIMER?

Command Syntax

Parameters

Required Parameters

Optional Parameters

Timer Types

One-Shot Timers

Recurring Timers

Conditional Timers

System Timers

Programming Examples

Basic Timer Definition

Recurring Timer Definition

Error Handling with Timer Definition

Timer Configuration

Interval Settings

Repeat Configuration

Execution Configuration

Monitoring Configuration

Error Handling

Common Response Codes

Performance Considerations

Definition Efficiency

Resource Impact

Best Practices

Timer Definition Best Practices

Explain It Like I'm 5 Years Old

Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Timer Definition

Exercise 2: Interval Configuration

Exercise 3: Error Handling

Related Concepts

Timer Management

Timer Configuration

Scheduling

Time Management

Error Handling

Related Pages