Chapter 1: Introduction


About this book

Client Services Applications (CSAs) are customer written applications that enable CICS applications to access LAN resources. The Mainframe Connect Client Option Programmer’s Reference for Client Services Applications describes how to design, code and test CSAs.

This chapter contains the following topics:

Audience

This guide is for anyone responsible for the following tasks:

Product name changes

The following table describes new names for products in the 12.6 release of the Mainframe Connect Integrated Product Set.

Old product names

New product name

  • Open ClientConnect for CICS

  • Open ClientCONNECT for CICS

Mainframe Connect Client Option for CICS

  • Open Client Connect for IMS and MVS

  • Open ClientCONNECT for IMS and MVS

Mainframe Connect Client Option for IMS and MVS

  • Open ServerConnect for CICS

  • Open ServerCONNECT for CICS

Mainframe Connect Server Option for CICS

  • Open ServerConnect for IMS and MVS

  • Open ServerCONNECT for IMS and MVS

Mainframe Connect Server Option for IMS and MVS

  • MainframeConnect™ for DB2 UDB

  • MainframeCONNECT for DB2/MVS-CICS

Mainframe Connect DB2 UDB Option for CICS

  • DirectConnect for OS/390

  • DirectCONNECT for DB2/MVS

DirectConnect for z/OS

The old product names are used throughout this book, except for on the title page.

NoteThis book also uses the terms MVS and OS/390 where the newer term z/OS would otherwise be used.

How to use this book

The Mainframe Connect Client Option Programmer’s Reference for Client Services Applications provides a set of tasks and reference information, with each chapter representing a task and each appendix representing reference information to help you accomplish a task. CSA examples are provided in COBOL II.

If you are not familiar with CICS and the CICS control tables, ask your CICS or system programmer to make the required CICS entries.

This reference guide provides the following information:

Chapter

Contents

Chapter 1, “Introduction”

General information about the Mainframe Connect mainframe access products and an overview of CSAs and how they work.

Chapter 2, “Designing a CSA”

Discusses information to consider before you design a CSA.

Chapter 3, “Writing a CSA”

Explains how to write a CSA.

Chapter 4, “Compiling and Testing a CSA”

Explains how to compile and test a CSA.

Chapter 5, “Troubleshooting”

Explains how to troubleshoot problems in your CSA program.

Appendix A, “CSA Commands”

Lists and explains the CSA commands.

Appendix B, “CLIENTC2 Sample CSA”

Describes a sample CSA that retrieves results and messages to the CSA through an input pipe.

Appendix C, “CSAINDX Sample CSA”

Describes a sample CSA that transfers data from DB2 through DirectConnect to Adaptive Server Enterprise.

Appendix D, “CSARESCK Sample CSA”

Describes a sample CSA that sends a group of eight INSERT statements in one request buffer to Adaptive Server Enterprise and checks error messages to determine the success of the requests.

Appendix E, “The SPAREA”

Explains how CSAs use the SPAREA. It includes SPAREA fields and SPAREA definitions.

Appendix F, “The SQLDA”

Describes how CSAs use the SQLDA.

Appendix G, “Related Products and Documentation”

List of Related Sybase products, related IBM products and Mainframe Connect documentation.

Other sources of information

Use the Sybase Getting Started CD, the Sybase Technical Library CD, and the Technical Library Product Manuals Web site to learn more about your product:

Sybase certifications on the Web

Technical documentation at the Sybase Web site is updated frequently.

StepsFinding the latest information on product certifications

  1. Point your Web browser to Technical Documents.

  2. Select Products from the navigation bar on the left.

  3. Select a product name from the product list and click Go.

  4. Select the Certification Report filter, specify a time frame, and click Go.

  5. Click a Certification Report title to display the report.

StepsCreating a personalized view of the Sybase Web site (including support pages)

Set up a MySybase profile. MySybase is a free service that allows you to create a personalized view of Sybase Web pages.

  1. Point your Web browser to Technical Documents.

  2. Click MySybase and create a MySybase profile.

Sybase EBFs and software maintenance

StepsFinding the latest information on EBFs and software maintenance

  1. Point your Web browser to the Sybase Support Page.

  2. Select EBFs/Maintenance. Enter user name and password information, if prompted (for existing Web accounts) or create a new account (a free service).

  3. Select a product.

  4. Specify a time frame and click Go.

  5. Click the Info icon to display the EBF/Maintenance report, or click the product description to download the software.

Conventions

The following sections describe syntax and style conventions used in this book.

NoteThroughout this book, all references to MVS refer to native MVS programs, and all references to Adaptive Server™ Enterprise also apply to its predecessor, SQL Server®.

Syntax statements that display options for a command look like this:

COMMAND [object_name, [ {TRUE | FALSE} ] ]

The following table explains the syntax conventions used in this guide.

Table 1: Syntax conventions

Symbol

Convention

( )

Include parentheses as part of the command.

{ }

Braces indicate that you must choose at least one of the enclosed options. Do not type the braces when you type the option.

[ ]

Brackets indicate that you can choose one or more of the enclosed options, or none. Do not type the brackets when you type the options.

|

The vertical bar indicates that you can select only one of the options shown. Do not type the bar in your command.

,

The comma indicates that you can choose one or more of the options shown. Separate each choice by using a comma as part of the command.

We use the following style conventions in this guide:

If you need help

Each Sybase installation that has purchased a support contract has one or more designated people who are authorized to contact Sybase Technical Support. If you cannot resolve a problem using the manuals or online help, please have the designated person contact Sybase Technical Support or the Sybase subsidiary in your area.





Copyright © 2005. Sybase Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 1: Introduction

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