CICS-FCTD is an online menu-driven system utility, operating under CICS, that enables dynamic creation and maintenance of all file definitions required by CICS, contained within the CICS File Control Table.
CICS-FCTD's facilities provide for the creation and maintenance of all file definitions, all required labels, and all required disk assignments for any VSAM or BDAM type file. Sequential files can be defined to CICS through the CICS-FCTD utility, allowing applications and other file utilities to have access to sequential type files for inquiry and modification.
CICS-FCTD also provides a powerful file maintenance feature called the File Service Functions which allows you to display, modify, add and delete records to any file known to CICS. You can define nearly any file in the system to CICS using FCTD and therefore have on-line maintenance functions to virtually any file in the environment.
CICS-FCTD builds and maintains FCT-like file control definitions. These File Definitions are retained in a VSAM file and are keyed by the 8-character DDNAME operand. In other words, the key to the CICS-FCTD File Definition is the same as the DDNAME of the FCT. This allows the functions of other CICS utilities, such as CSMT and CEMT, to function and operate according to the same set of rules.
Any VSAM or BDAM type file can be defined through CICS-FCTD including fixed length sequential files. File label information is specified through CICS-FCTD. FCTD in turn properly builds the DLBL, EXTENT, and ASSGN information for DOS or the DD statement information for MVS.
CICS-FCTD will dynamically create the actual CICS FCT table entry and append this entry to the CICS File Control Table that resides in memory. These requests are handled dynamically and according to the specifications defined in the CICS-FCTD File Definition.
The CICS-FCTD File Definitions contain all the information that would ordinarily be kept within the FCT entry, plus additional information. This additional information provides greater control and flexibility over the files that are used through CICS, and yet far less work is required in order to define a new file to CICS. When a new file is created, various status values can be assigned for the file. These values can be dynamically modified by authorized personnel at any time, through CICS-FCTD.
Eliminates the system requirement of re-assembling the FCT when a new file is introduced
Increase CICS startup performance
Statistical reporting
Audit control
Duplicate key isolation
Schedule file deactivation
FCT administration
CICS/FCTD produces all file labels and file assignments needed by CICS, eliminating the time consuming coding of entries in the CICS File Control Table (FCT) and re-assembly of the CICS-FCT each time a new file is introduced.
Hot FCT updates to CICS
CICS/FCTD allows CICS to remain up when introducing a new file to the system by eliminating the down time required to re-initialize CICS in order to bring a new file on-line to CICS.
Increase CICS performance
Allows CICS to start-up significantly faster since files do not need to be opened initially.
Mitigate CICS downtime
Eliminates scheduling problems associated with CICS down time.
File availability
Reduces overall application development time because files can be immediately made available for testing.
Reduce CICS resource utilization
Resources required by CICS for file processing need only be allocated at the time of a request to open a file.
Increase productivity
Increases the productivity of CICS system personnel through a menu-driven interface, with "window-type" help screens that guide the creation and maintenance of file entries.
Automated file deactivation
Automatically closes and deactivates files that have not been used for a specified interval of time, thereby freeing the resources that were tied up by an inactive file.
Schedule file close
Allows files to be automatically closed at a specified time of day.
Easy file maintenance
Control over files is easily maintained.
File Audit
Complete file status and file definition information is instantly available for inquiry or authorized modification.
Status code
Frees operators from opening and closing files to applications. Files can be given various status codes to eliminate the need for any operator intervention.
BDAM integrity
Will not abnormally terminate CICS if a BDAM file is opened that was improperly defined or not found on disk (DOS users).
Batch capability
Allows on-line files to be opened or closed from a batch partition or region.
Transaction/program disablement
Allows transactions and programs associated with a file to be disabled when the file is closed and enabled when the file is opened.
File statistics and reporting
Provides complete reporting of file definitions with up-to-the-minute statistical information.
Support for remote file definitions
Supports most types of file definitions, including remote file definitions.
Online file manipulation
Display, alter, add, delete or browse file records of any file in CICS with the file service functions.
Hex view and update facility
Data records are displayed in both hex and character, allowing changes to be made in either mode.
Record search
Search data records for the presence of a hex or character string.
Search using LOCATE
Search an entire file using the LOCATE function and construct queries using Boolean logic. Selected records can be displayed, modified, deleted, added to another file, or printed.
Online record reformatting
Reformat data records on-line using the LOCATE function.
Duplicate key isolation
Isolate duplicate key data using the LOCATE function.
Non-numeric search
Find non-numeric data fields with the LOCATE function.
Extend variable length records
Change the length of variable-length records with the file service functions.
Sequential file administration
Display, update and search sequential files.
Batch interface
Vary service requests for files to UPDATE or NOUPDATE through the Batch Interface program.
Documentation and help facility
Extensive help system with detailed displays for every field displayed by the FCTD system.