This book takes up where Part 1 leaves off. Part 1 covers the basics of CICS...the elements you'll use in just about every CICS program you write. Part 2 covers the advanced features you'll use regularly, though you won't need all of them for every program.
To be specific, this book teaches you:
-- how to use browse commands to process a file sequentially
-- how to use the browse commands to process VSAM alternate index files
-- how DB2 database processing affects CICS programming (if you don't have any DB2 experience, this is just an introduction; you can get the additional DB2 training you'll need from our DB2 books, described on pages 3 and 4)
-- how DL/I database processing affects CICS programming (again, this is an introduction; you can get the additional DL/I training you'll need from our IMS books, described on page 9)
-- how to produce multi-page output using BMS page building
-- how to use the ROUTE command to direct output to one or more terminals
-- how to use terminal control commands that let you communicate directly with a terminal, bypassing BMS
-- how to use temporary storage queues to store and retrieve small amounts of temporary data
-- how to use transient data queues (transient data exists only from the time it's written to the time it's read)
-- how to use interval control commands to start a task
-- how to create an abend exit to keep your task from abending when an error occurs
-- how to use the distributed processing features of CICS, including Distributed Program Link and APPC
After finishing this book, then, you'll know a wide variety of advanced CICS features. Just as important, though, you'll know what features dosimilar things and when to use each one. And it's that knowledge that will save you time and work every day.
