Testing different versions of the same program in CICS

Binop B · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:45 pm

Hi Friends,

I am working in an environment where more than one person can be working ( making changes ) on the same program and testing simultaneously.

I would like to know, if it is possible in CICS, whether a user can test his own version of the program while another person can test his/her program in the same CICS region parallely.

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:05 pm

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:06 pm

Not when the both modules have the same name.

Binop B · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:29 pm

Hi Robert and Dbz,

Thanks a lot for ur reply and guidance.

Please ignore my arrogance in asking the next question....

Before closing this... i would like to know whether it is at all possible even if we have to go to extreme measures.

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:36 pm

Only if the transactions and modules are uniquely named. CICS only has one transaction named ABCD, for example, which points to only one program ABCDPROG.

I have worked places where there's multiple sets of program names and transactions so TST1 transaction, for example, could execute TSTPROG1 while TST2 transaction executed TSTPROG2. TSTPROG1 and TSTPROG2 were different versions of the same program. Maintaining control of the environment, however, is a nightmare and significantly increases system programmer (and sometimes lead application programmer) consumption of alcoholic beverages after hours. The different versions have to be able to access different copies of the files used by the system, so file names (and TD queue names, TS queue names, map names, and anything else unique to the system) has to be duplicated and loaded from parameters, not hard coded in the programs.

Binop B · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:46 pm

Hi Robert,

You really do "paint" a good picture...

... by the looks of it its extremely painful to implement this...

You were mentioning about having mutiple regions in CICS to implement the situation... how easy / tough is it to have a region for each and every user ( Tester )...

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:55 pm

CICS region set up, while not difficult, does require system resources (VTAM APPLID, initiator, address space for each region, for example) so you may get some reluctance from your site support group about setting up a batch of regions, one per tester. The CICS support group for your site would be where to start -- they have to define the APPLID, assemble the SIT, create the RDO entries for transactions, programs, maps, files and so forth, plus create the JCL, assemble some PLT entries (most likely) and test the region before letting people at it.

Binop B · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:05 pm

Suppose say we already have CICSTEST region that's available with all the resources. When we create a new region, say CICSTSTA, will the region be a completely new one or is there an option to make it just a subset of the CICSTEST region.

What I mean by a subset is basically like - for the situation we are having.. I would like to keep all the system resources same as CICSTEST except to handle the different load modules. I am guessing in the new region, CICSTSTA, we do not have to define all programs and maps and the rest but only the changes from what we want from the CICSTEST region.

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:08 pm

I am not aware of any way to do that -- as far as I know, every CICS region is a complete region with its own copy of everything. It may share the same RDO entries as another region (which could reduce set up time), but in order to get to the region from your terminal it must have a unique APPLID for VTAM to find it. And that means it has to be running in its own address space.

Binop B · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:35 pm

Thanks a ton Robert...