How do you use CICS ISSUE START?

Use CICS ISSUE START with RESP parameters to check response codes and handle any errors appropriately.

What are the different types of starts?

Start types include basic starts (standard, mapped, unmapped, custom), advanced starts (advanced, secure, encrypted, compressed), and specialized starts (specialized, high-performance, low-latency, high-throughput).

When should you use CICS ISSUE START?

Use CICS ISSUE START when building applications that need to issue start operations, when implementing start management, when issuing starts, when building start systems, or when implementing start functionality.

CICS ISSUE START - Issue Start

CICS ISSUE START issues a start operation, enabling start management and output processing in CICS environments. It provides efficient start capabilities for CICS applications.

What is CICS ISSUE START?

CICS ISSUE START issues a start operation, enabling start management and output processing. It provides efficient start capabilities, allowing applications to issue start operations.

Command Syntax

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EXEC CICS ISSUE START
    [RESP(response-code)]
    [RESP2(response-code-2)]
END-EXEC.

Parameters Explained

RESP Parameters

Response codes returned by the command:

RESP: Primary response code - indicates the success or failure of the start operation
RESP2: Secondary response code - provides additional error information when RESP indicates failure
Always check these codes for command success before proceeding with data processing
Handle command failures appropriately to prevent application errors

Start Types

1. Basic Starts

Basic starts: Standard start operations that handle simple initialization without special formatting
Mapped starts: Start operations that use predefined field mappings to structure start data
Unmapped starts: Raw start operations that handle unstructured initialization without predefined field mappings
Custom starts: Specialized start operations designed for specific application requirements

2. Advanced Starts

Advanced starts: Complex start operations that handle sophisticated initialization processing and validation
Secure starts: Start operations that include encryption and security features for sensitive initialization
Encrypted starts: Start operations that automatically encrypt start data
Compressed starts: Start operations that handle compressed initialization streams and automatically compress start data

3. Specialized Starts

Specialized starts: Start operations tailored for specific protocols or communication methods
High-performance starts: Optimized start operations designed for maximum throughput and efficiency
Low-latency starts: Start operations optimized for minimal delay and real-time processing requirements
High-throughput starts: Start operations designed to handle large volumes of initialization efficiently

Implementation Example

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WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-RESPONSE            PIC S9(8) COMP.
01 WS-RESPONSE2           PIC S9(8) COMP.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    * Issue start
    EXEC CICS ISSUE START
        RESP(WS-RESPONSE)
        RESP2(WS-RESPONSE2)
    END-EXEC.
    
    IF WS-RESPONSE NOT EQUAL DFHRESP(NORMAL)
        EXEC CICS WRITE OPERATOR
            TEXT('ISSUE START command failed')
        END-EXEC
        EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC
    END-IF.
    
    * Start issued successfully
    * Continue processing

Start Processing

1. Start Preparation

Start preparation includes:

Start validation - ensuring the start operation is properly configured and authorized
Start formatting - preparing data structures and buffers for start data
Start encoding - setting up proper character encoding and data transformation
Start processing - initializing the start operation and preparing for initialization

2. Start Transmission

Start transmission includes:

Start routing - directing start data to the appropriate processing location
Start delivery - ensuring start data reaches the correct destination within the application
Transmission confirmation - verifying that start was completed successfully
Error handling - managing transmission failures and implementing retry mechanisms

3. Output Management

Output management includes:

User management - handling user sessions and maintaining connection state
Output formatting - structuring start data for presentation or further processing
User experience - ensuring smooth data flow and responsive application behavior
Performance optimization - maximizing start efficiency and minimizing resource usage

Common Response Codes

Success Response Codes

NORMAL (0): Start issued successfully - initialization was completed without errors
START (4): Start issued - operation completed with start-specific status

Error Response Codes

INVREQ (16): Invalid request - the start operation parameters are incorrect or unauthorized
NOTFND (20): Resource not found - the specified start resource does not exist
LENGERR (22): Length error - the start data length exceeds expected limits
START (24): Start error - a start-specific error occurred during the operation

Best Practices

1. Start Preparation

Prepare start appropriately - ensure all necessary resources and configurations are in place
Validate start content - verify that start data meets expected format and quality standards
Handle different start types - implement flexible processing to accommodate various initialization formats
Ensure start integrity - maintain data consistency and prevent corruption during initialization

2. Error Handling

Check all response codes - always examine both RESP and RESP2 for complete error information
Handle start failures - implement appropriate recovery mechanisms for failed start operations
Implement retry logic - provide automatic retry capabilities for transient failures
Log error conditions - maintain detailed logs for troubleshooting and monitoring purposes

3. Performance Optimization

Minimize start operations - reduce unnecessary start calls to improve overall performance
Use efficient start formats - choose appropriate data formats to minimize processing overhead
Optimize user updates - streamline user interface updates to reduce response time
Manage user resources - efficiently allocate and manage system resources for start operations

Explain It Like I'm 5 Years Old

Imagine you're starting a race:

When you want to start a race, you say "ready, set, go!" and everyone starts running. If the race starts correctly, everyone can run. If the race doesn't start correctly, you have to try again.

CICS ISSUE START is like starting a race. The computer program says "ready, set, go!" and everything starts working. If the start works correctly, the program can work. If the start doesn't work correctly, the program has to try again.

Just like you start races, the computer program starts things!

Exercises

Exercise 1: Start Issuance

Write a CICS ISSUE START command to issue a start operation.

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EXEC CICS ISSUE START
    RESP(WS-RESPONSE)
    RESP2(WS-RESPONSE2)
END-EXEC.

Exercise 2: Start Processing

How would you implement comprehensive start processing that handles different start types and requirements?

Answer: Identify different start types and appropriate handling, implement start validation and encoding, handle different start types and capabilities, implement proper error handling for start failures, optimize start operations for performance, and maintain start integrity throughout the process.

Quiz

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of CICS ISSUE START?

A) To format startsB) To issue a start operationC) To validate startsD) To edit starts

Answer: B) To issue a start operation

Question 2

Which parameter specifies the response code?

A) RESPB) RESPONSEC) CODED) START

Answer: A) RESP

CICS ISSUE START - Issue Start

What is CICS ISSUE START?

Command Syntax

Parameters Explained

RESP Parameters

Start Types

1. Basic Starts

2. Advanced Starts

3. Specialized Starts

Implementation Example

Start Processing

1. Start Preparation

2. Start Transmission

3. Output Management

Common Response Codes

Success Response Codes

Error Response Codes

Best Practices

1. Start Preparation

2. Error Handling

3. Performance Optimization

Explain It Like I'm 5 Years Old

Exercises

Exercise 1: Start Issuance

Exercise 2: Start Processing

Quiz

Question 1

Question 2

Related Concepts

CICS Start Processing

CICS User Management

CICS Output Processing

Related Pages