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CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER (BTS) - BTS Container Browse Navigation

CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER (BTS) provides Business Transaction Services container browse navigation capabilities in CICS environments. It enables programs to navigate BTS container browse operations, retrieve next containers, and manage container browsing sessions in CICS applications.

What is CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER (BTS)?

CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER (BTS) is a command that allows programs to navigate Business Transaction Services container browse operations, retrieve next containers, and manage container browsing sessions in CICS environments. It provides BTS container browse navigation capabilities, sequential access, and browse management for CICS applications.

Command Syntax

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EXEC CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER
    [CHANNEL(channel-name)]
    [REQID(request-id)]
    [CONTAINER(container-name)]
    [INTO(data-area)]
    [LENGTH(data-length)]
    [RESP(response-code)]
END-EXEC

Parameters

Optional Parameters

  • CHANNEL - Channel name containing the containers
  • REQID - Request identifier for the browse operation
  • CONTAINER - Container name to receive next container
  • INTO - Data area to receive container information
  • LENGTH - Length of data to retrieve
  • RESP - Response code variable

BTS Container Browse Navigation Types

Sequential Navigation

Navigate through containers in sequence

  • • FORWARD NAVIGATION - Navigate forward through container list
  • • NEXT CONTAINER NAVIGATION - Move to next container in sequence
  • • SEQUENTIAL ACCESS - Access containers in sequential order
  • • LINEAR NAVIGATION - Navigate linearly through containers

Channel Navigation

Navigate through containers in specific channels

  • • CHANNEL-SPECIFIC NAVIGATION - Navigate through containers in specific channels
  • • MULTI-CHANNEL NAVIGATION - Navigate across multiple channels
  • • CHANNEL-GROUP NAVIGATION - Navigate through channel groups
  • • CHANNEL-PATTERN NAVIGATION - Navigate through channels matching patterns

Conditional Navigation

Navigate based on specific conditions

  • • CONDITIONAL NAVIGATION - Navigate only when conditions are met
  • • STATE-BASED NAVIGATION - Navigate based on container state
  • • TYPE-BASED NAVIGATION - Navigate based on container type
  • • FILTERED NAVIGATION - Navigate through filtered containers

Batch Navigation

Navigate through multiple containers

  • • BATCH NAVIGATION - Navigate through multiple containers in batch
  • • GROUP NAVIGATION - Navigate through related container groups
  • • CATEGORY NAVIGATION - Navigate through container categories
  • • PATTERN NAVIGATION - Navigate through containers matching patterns

Programming Examples

Basic Container Navigation

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. GETNEXT01.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  CHANNEL-NAME    PIC X(20) VALUE 'MAIN_CHANNEL'.
       01  REQUEST-ID      PIC X(8) VALUE 'REQ001'.
       01  CONTAINER-NAME  PIC X(20).
       01  DATA-AREA       PIC X(1000).
       01  DATA-LENGTH     PIC S9(8) COMP.
       01  RESPONSE-CODE   PIC S9(8) COMP.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER
               CHANNEL(CHANNEL-NAME)
               REQID(REQUEST-ID)
               CONTAINER(CONTAINER-NAME)
               INTO(DATA-AREA)
               LENGTH(DATA-LENGTH)
               RESP(RESPONSE-CODE)
           END-EXEC
           
           IF RESPONSE-CODE = DFHRESP(NORMAL)
               DISPLAY 'Next container retrieved successfully'
               DISPLAY 'Container: ' CONTAINER-NAME
               DISPLAY 'Channel: ' CHANNEL-NAME
               DISPLAY 'Data length: ' DATA-LENGTH
           ELSE
               DISPLAY 'Failed to retrieve next container'
           END-IF
           
           EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

Container Navigation Loop

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. GETNEXT02.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  CHANNEL-NAME    PIC X(20) VALUE 'PROCESS_CHANNEL'.
       01  REQUEST-ID      PIC X(8) VALUE 'REQ002'.
       01  CONTAINER-NAME  PIC X(20).
       01  DATA-AREA       PIC X(1000).
       01  DATA-LENGTH     PIC S9(8) COMP.
       01  RESPONSE-CODE   PIC S9(8) COMP.
       01  CONTAINER-COUNT PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           PERFORM UNTIL RESPONSE-CODE NOT = DFHRESP(NORMAL)
               EXEC CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER
                   CHANNEL(CHANNEL-NAME)
                   REQID(REQUEST-ID)
                   CONTAINER(CONTAINER-NAME)
                   INTO(DATA-AREA)
                   LENGTH(DATA-LENGTH)
                   RESP(RESPONSE-CODE)
               END-EXEC
               
               IF RESPONSE-CODE = DFHRESP(NORMAL)
                   ADD 1 TO CONTAINER-COUNT
                   DISPLAY 'Container ' CONTAINER-COUNT ': ' CONTAINER-NAME
               END-IF
           END-PERFORM
           
           DISPLAY 'Total containers processed: ' CONTAINER-COUNT
           
           EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

Error Handling with Container Navigation

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. GETNEXT03.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  CHANNEL-NAME    PIC X(20) VALUE 'MESSAGE_CHANNEL'.
       01  REQUEST-ID      PIC X(8) VALUE 'REQ003'.
       01  CONTAINER-NAME  PIC X(20).
       01  DATA-AREA       PIC X(1000).
       01  DATA-LENGTH     PIC S9(8) COMP.
       01  RESPONSE-CODE   PIC S9(8) COMP.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER
               CHANNEL(CHANNEL-NAME)
               REQID(REQUEST-ID)
               CONTAINER(CONTAINER-NAME)
               INTO(DATA-AREA)
               LENGTH(DATA-LENGTH)
               RESP(RESPONSE-CODE)
           END-EXEC
           
           EVALUATE RESPONSE-CODE
               WHEN DFHRESP(NORMAL)
                   DISPLAY 'Next container retrieved successfully'
                   DISPLAY 'Container: ' CONTAINER-NAME
                   DISPLAY 'Channel: ' CHANNEL-NAME
               WHEN DFHRESP(ENDFILE)
                   DISPLAY 'End of container list reached'
               WHEN DFHRESP(NOTFND)
                   DISPLAY 'Browse operation not found'
               WHEN DFHRESP(INVREQ)
                   DISPLAY 'Invalid navigation request'
               WHEN DFHRESP(CONTAINERERR)
                   DISPLAY 'Container-specific error occurred'
               WHEN OTHER
                   DISPLAY 'Unexpected error occurred'
           END-EVALUATE
           
           EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

BTS Container Browse Management

Browse State Management

  • • Browse Position Tracking - Track current position in browse operation
  • • Browse State Maintenance - Maintain browse state across operations
  • • Browse Context Management - Manage browse context and environment
  • • Browse Session Management - Manage browse session lifecycle

Channel Management

  • • Channel Navigation Control - Control navigation within channels
  • • Channel State Management - Manage channel state during navigation
  • • Channel Context Management - Manage channel context and environment
  • • Channel Session Management - Manage channel session lifecycle

Container Management

  • • Container Data Management - Manage container data during navigation
  • • Container State Management - Manage container state during navigation
  • • Container Metadata Management - Manage container metadata during navigation
  • • Container Access Management - Manage container access during navigation

Error Management

  • • Error Detection - Detect errors during navigation
  • • Error Recovery - Recover from navigation errors
  • • Error Reporting - Report navigation errors
  • • Error Prevention - Prevent future navigation errors

Error Handling

Common Response Codes

  • DFHRESP(NORMAL) - Next container retrieved successfully
  • DFHRESP(ENDFILE) - End of container list reached
  • DFHRESP(NOTFND) - Browse operation not found
  • DFHRESP(INVREQ) - Invalid navigation request
  • DFHRESP(CONTAINERERR) - Container-specific error
  • DFHRESP(GETNEXTERR) - Get next-specific error

Performance Considerations

Navigation Efficiency

  • • Optimize navigation operations - Use appropriate navigation methods for different container types
  • • Minimize navigation overhead - Reduce the computational cost of navigation operations
  • • Use efficient navigation patterns - Implement navigation strategies that minimize resource usage
  • • Monitor navigation performance - Track the performance impact of navigation operations

Resource Impact

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

Best Practices

BTS Container Browse Navigation Best Practices

  • • Always check response codes
  • • Use appropriate navigation parameters
  • • Implement proper error handling
  • • Ensure proper browse state management
  • • Validate navigation operations
  • • Optimize navigation operations
  • • Clean up resources properly

Explain It Like I'm 5 Years Old

Think of CICS GETNEXT CONTAINER (BTS) like looking through boxes in a room:

  • • Room Name: "Which room to look in" - The channel name
  • • Look at Next Box: "Look at the next box" - Get next container
  • • See What's Inside: "See what's in the box" - Access container data
  • • Keep Looking: "Look at more boxes" - Continue navigation
  • • All Done: "Finished looking through all boxes" - End of containers

Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Container Navigation

Create a program that navigates through BTS containers using GETNEXT CONTAINER.

Exercise 2: Container Navigation Loop

Write a program that loops through all containers in a channel using GETNEXT CONTAINER.

Exercise 3: Error Handling

Implement comprehensive error handling for container navigation failures and end-of-list conditions.

Related Concepts

BTS Management

Managing Business Transaction Services

Container Management

Managing BTS containers

Browse Operations

Managing browse operations

Channel Management

Managing BTS channels

Error Handling

Managing navigation errors