05 cics screens introduction
CICS Screens Introduction
CICS (Customer Information Control System) is the structure behind the on-line applications found in the EXPO/EARS system. These programs are initially accessed via 4-character alphanumeric ID codes called CICS transactions. EXPO transactions generally begin with “ES2” (for the now obsolete “ES-202” naming convention), while EARS transactions start with “EAR”. The transaction invokes a program name, which calls upon one or more CICS mapsets, which provide the formatting information for the on-line screen contents. Although the program and mapset names are listed in this documentation (almost parenthetically), it is the transaction codes themselves that are used to identify the CICS program(s) in this documentation.
EXPO and EARS use a color-coding scheme to note various features and aspects of currently displayed data. The general context of the color codes is listed below, but certain special cases can only be fully listed with their individual screens.
- Green (green) fields represent updateable data items. This color is the norm for screens that accept changes when used by people who are authorized to make those updates.
- Turquoise (turquoise) fields represent data items that are locked to updates, so they remain unchangeable. In micro data, the lock is usually controlled by screen ES2I, so that data can be toggled from turquoise (locked) to green (unlocked).
- White (white or can be shown in black bold) coloring is used to highlight field and column headers, function key descriptions, system prompts, and other non-data representations.
- Yellow (yellow) is also used for headings and function key descriptions, but identifies the text as non-constant (going to a different screen or having a different type of field).
- Pink (pink) is used for a variety of special notations, such as a code change in current refiling, flagging non-disclosable macro data, showing an establishment that is out of the current macro listing for one of the two displayed quarters, etc.
- Red (red) notes an error message or important system notice. In certain cases (particularly in ES2C), the message will be flashing as well to draw extra attention to itself.
- Reverse video (reverse video) is a rarely employed method for additional highlighting. In one instance (ES2C), it denotes a predecessor or successor that is only one of multiple actual predecessors or successors to the currently displayed establishment. In macro displays (ES2D), reverse video highlights annual macro totals to separate them from the six quarters of data that surround the totals line.
The screen samples that appear in this document use a white background for all but the white and yellow characters. This is done for the sake of printing, since the standard black or dark blue background of the regular screen would use massive amounts of ink or toner. Of course, when the documentation remains solely as an on-line document, this will not become a factor.
Function keys throughout the screens are used throughout the CICS screens for special operations. These are shown as F1 through F24 in the documentation, and use the PC definitions of function keys rather than the mainframe notation for the “PF” (Program Function) keys. The Shift key is used with the function keys to produce the F13 through F24 results. The notations S1 through S12 are shown on the screen to designate the shifted function key values instead of the older PF13 through PF24 references.
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