SuperBMS & SSSEDIT

BPranav · New User Joined: 10 Sep 2019 Posts: 5 Location: usa

Hi,
I have worked on SuperBMS Maps which allow for an EDIT=(O-VALUE=A,B,C) kind of definitions to fields on a map. Then the source module calls a utility - LINK PROGRAM SSSEDIT which understands this EDIT. This removes the need to code edits within the source module to check for valid values. The EDIT in map and SSSEDIT handles it.

I need to convert SuperBMS to normal CICS map. Is there anything equivalent to this in regular CICS Map?
Also, we are moving from Mainframes to a JAVA based platform. Is there any utility equivalent to SSSEDIT on a platform other than Mainframe?

Thanks,
Pranav

BPranav · New User Joined: 10 Sep 2019 Posts: 5 Location: usa

An example for the above post:
GW99999 DFHMSD TYPE=MAP,LANG=COBOL,MODE=INOUT,EXTATT=YES,TIOAPFX=YES
RCLA=(01,26,27,SN,D), *
INIT='TEST ONLINE PROCESSING'
RCLA=(01,73,07,SN),INIT='GW9999'
ACTION-CODE RCLA=(13,30,01,AN),TITLE*'ENTER ACTION CODE:', *
EDIT=(O-VALUE=A,D,I)

That is an excerpt from a SUPERBMS Map definition. The EDIT defines the valid values for the field ACTION CODE.

The calling CICS Module links to SSSEDIT which enforces the valid values for this field

John Poulakos · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:12 pm

I have never seen anything like that in standard CICS mapping support.

Java based systems usually use XML and web services. SSSEDIT is basically translating your code into a 3270 screen buffer, which is of no use to an enterprise based system. IBM has a utility which will convert CICS copybooks into XML.

BPranav · New User Joined: 10 Sep 2019 Posts: 5 Location: usa

Is there a way by which the EDIT in SuperBMS can be defined in a regular CICS Map? We are migrating the CICS screen to Angular /JAVA but we are checking if we can do that without adding any additonal code within our CICS source module to substitute for the SuperBMS's EDIT.

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:50 pm

googling witj superBMS SSSEDIT CICS

returned ONLY one link... this topic

so unless You come up with more meaningful information
the chances of getting help are rally small

Rohit Umarjikar · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:56 pm

John Poulakos · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:57 pm

CICS BMS does not support editing data. You would have to write code to perform edits after the map has been received. The implementations I have seen with Angular/JAVA use REST. The data definitions that hold the map data in CICS can be put in copybooks and converted to REST format with an IBM utility. But, you still need Java code to perform edits.

Note: SuperBMS was a product that never got a lot of traction... it was too late for most shops moving away from 3270 terminals. I haven't seen it in at least 10 years.

The primary advantages of Angular are it's free and is easier to use than Microsoft Visual Studio.

John Poulakos · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 8:30 pm

For this type of migration that I have been involved in, I convert the CICS data to WSDL or REST, change the CICS program to use container support and test the changes with SOAPUI. When the JAVA platform is ready, it's pretty easy to migrate the WSDL or REST members and convert program logic. Once you have done one, it gets pretty easy.

However, I have never seen an enterprise solution that wasn't far inferior to using mainframe web services.

John Poulakos · Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 8:36 pm

After reading more of your posts about this conversion, it appears you are trying to perform some kind of direct conversion of CICS programs and functions to an enterprise based system. You will end up with an incredible mess. Your system needs to be redesigned, not converted.