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CICS ISSUE TRACE - Issue Trace

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

What is CICS ISSUE TRACE?

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

Command Syntax

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EXEC CICS ISSUE TRACE
    [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 trace 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

Trace Types

1. Basic Traces

  • Basic traces: Standard trace operations that handle simple tracking without special formatting
  • Mapped traces: Trace operations that use predefined field mappings to structure trace data
  • Unmapped traces: Raw trace operations that handle unstructured tracking without predefined field mappings
  • Custom traces: Specialized trace operations designed for specific application requirements

2. Advanced Traces

  • Advanced traces: Complex trace operations that handle sophisticated tracking processing and validation
  • Secure traces: Trace operations that include encryption and security features for sensitive tracking
  • Encrypted traces: Trace operations that automatically encrypt trace data
  • Compressed traces: Trace operations that handle compressed tracking streams and automatically compress trace data

3. Specialized Traces

  • Specialized traces: Trace operations tailored for specific protocols or communication methods
  • High-performance traces: Optimized trace operations designed for maximum throughput and efficiency
  • Low-latency traces: Trace operations optimized for minimal delay and real-time processing requirements
  • High-throughput traces: Trace operations designed to handle large volumes of tracking 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 trace
    EXEC CICS ISSUE TRACE
        RESP(WS-RESPONSE)
        RESP2(WS-RESPONSE2)
    END-EXEC.
    
    IF WS-RESPONSE NOT EQUAL DFHRESP(NORMAL)
        EXEC CICS WRITE OPERATOR
            TEXT('ISSUE TRACE command failed')
        END-EXEC
        EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC
    END-IF.
    
    * Trace issued successfully
    * Continue processing

Trace Processing

1. Trace Preparation

Trace preparation includes:

  • Trace validation - ensuring the trace operation is properly configured and authorized
  • Trace formatting - preparing data structures and buffers for trace data
  • Trace encoding - setting up proper character encoding and data transformation
  • Trace processing - initializing the trace operation and preparing for tracking

2. Trace Transmission

Trace transmission includes:

  • Trace routing - directing trace data to the appropriate processing location
  • Trace delivery - ensuring trace data reaches the correct destination within the application
  • Transmission confirmation - verifying that trace 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 trace data for presentation or further processing
  • User experience - ensuring smooth data flow and responsive application behavior
  • Performance optimization - maximizing trace efficiency and minimizing resource usage

Common Response Codes

Success Response Codes

  • NORMAL (0): Trace issued successfully - tracking was completed without errors
  • TRACE (4): Trace issued - operation completed with trace-specific status

Error Response Codes

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

Best Practices

1. Trace Preparation

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

2. Error Handling

  • Check all response codes - always examine both RESP and RESP2 for complete error information
  • Handle trace failures - implement appropriate recovery mechanisms for failed trace 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 trace operations - reduce unnecessary trace calls to improve overall performance
  • Use efficient trace 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 trace operations

Explain It Like I'm 5 Years Old

Imagine you're following footprints:

When you want to follow footprints, you look at the ground and see where someone walked. If you can see the footprints clearly, you can follow them. If you can't see the footprints, you have to look harder.

CICS ISSUE TRACE is like following footprints. The computer program looks at what happened and sees where things went. If the trace works correctly, the program can follow what happened. If the trace doesn't work correctly, the program has to look harder.

Just like you follow footprints, the computer program follows what happened!

Exercises

Exercise 1: Trace Issuance

Write a CICS ISSUE TRACE command to issue a trace operation.

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

Exercise 2: Trace Processing

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

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

Quiz

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of CICS ISSUE TRACE?

Answer: B) To issue a trace operation

Question 2

Which parameter specifies the response code?

Answer: A) RESP

Related Concepts

CICS Trace Processing

Trace processing and output in CICS

CICS User Management

User management and user interaction in CICS

CICS Output Processing

Output processing and trace display in CICS