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SupportPac CH15: The CICS Time Machine

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Abstract

SupportPac CH15, the CICS Time Machine, is a tool that makes it easier for you to test time dependent CICS applications.

Download Description

In January 2019 this SupportPac was updated to explicitly support CICS TS 5.4 and CICS TS 5.5. In April 2021 details were added to describe how support for later releases of CICS TS could be provided using the materials supplied by the latest release of this SupportPac.
 
The CICS Time Machine is a tool that makes it easier for you to test time dependent CICS applications. It gives you the ability to change the time and date used by your CICS application programs, enabling you to test how the applications will behave at particular times or dates in the future, or in the past. The date and time can be set to specific values or the time can be adjusted by a positive or negative delta.

The CICS Time Machine uses XEIIN, XEIOUT and XPCFTCH, Global User Exit programs to create a virtual 'application' time zone for applications within a CICS Transaction Server for z/OS (CICS TS) region, while the rest of the z/OS image and the CICS software itself still use the real 'system' time. The exit programs provide conversion between the two time zones where times are passed from CICS to the application and vice-versa.

It is recommended that the CICS Time Machine be used only in test environments.

Possible Uses
  • Testing function that runs at an unsociable time of day
  • Testing applications whose operation will change on a certain date because of new legal regulations
  • Testing the effect of communications between CICS systems in different time zones

Example Usage
This CTMC transaction is designed be run from a 3270-type terminal with a 24 x 80 screen. It provides a very simple method of changing the date and time, as shown by the screen image below.
image

To change the date or time, simply modify the relevant input fields and press Enter. If a valid date and time are entered, the display will change to show 'System is using MODIFIED date/time'. If any of the fields are invalid, the fields in error will be highlighted and an error message will be displayed.

To resume using the current date and time (MVS system) in your CICS system, press PF6. The display will change to show 'System is using CURRENT date/time'.

Adding support for later releases of CICS TS

In relation to providing support for releases later than CICS TS 5.5, source file ch15.samp.cts53 is supplied as a sample code library for this SupportPac for CICS TS 5.3, or later. Therefore, ch15.samp.cts53 could be used as the basis for your own creation of support for later releases of CICS TS.

Skill Level Required

The following skill levels are recommended for anyone using this SupportPac:

  • CICS Application Programming - intermediate skill
  • CICS System Programming - intermediate skill
  • Knowledge of your system and applications - intermediate skill
What's New (release 2.5.2)?
  • Added support for CICS TS V5.5.
What's New (release 2.5.1)?
  • Added support for CICS TS V5.4.
New in release 2.5
  • Added support for CICS TS V5.3.
New in release 2.4
  • Added support for CICS TS V4.2, V5.1, and V5.2.
  • Tested against all releases of CICS TS from V4.1 onwards.
  • Removed support for CICS TS V3.1, and V3.2 (as these releases are out of service).
  • Removed the release independent loadlib. 0ne individual load library for each CICS TS version is provided.


Details
Author: Peter Klein (originally Steve Collins), CICS Development, IBM Deutschland GmbH (Mainz).
Category: 2
Released: 05May95
Last Updated: 22Jan19
Current Version: 2.5.2
 

Prerequisites


The SupportPac requires CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V4.1, or later.

Installation Instructions

To download the SupportPac:
  1. Click on the download link below and save the file to your local machine.
  2. Extract the saved file to a temporary directory on your local machine. This will create the necessary installation, documentation, and license files.
  3. Follow the instructions in the included documentation to complete installation of this SupportPac on your host system.

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Technical Support

BY DOWNLOADING, INSTALLING, COPYING, ACCESSING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE FREE-OF-CHARGE SUPPORTPAC, YOU AGREE THAT THE SUPPORTPAC IS COPYRIGHTED AND LICENSED BY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, OR ITS AFFILIATE, SOLELY FOR YOUR INTERNAL USE, AND IS NOT SOLD. THE SUPPORTPAC IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IBM PRODUCT SUPPORT IS NOT OFFERED FOR THE SUPPORTPAC. OTHER IBM LICENSE TERMS MAY ALSO APPLY TO THE SUPPORTPAC AND IN THE EVENT (AND TO THE EXTENT ONLY) OF ANY CONFLICT, THOSE LICENSE TERMS WILL APPLY. IF YOU ARE ACCEPTING THESE TERMS ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON OR A COMPANY OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY, YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO BIND THAT PERSON, COMPANY, OR LEGAL ENTITY TO THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS:

  • DO NOT DOWNLOAD, INSTALL, COPY, ACCESS, CLICK ON AN "ACCEPT" BUTTON, OR USE THE SUPPORTPAC; AND
  • PROMPTLY DESTROY ALL COPIES OF THE SUPPORTPAC AND RELATED DOCUMENTATION.
To view the available collection of CICS SupportPacs, visit the CICS SupportPacs Home Page

Document Location

Worldwide

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Product Synonym

CICS/TS CICS TS CICS Transaction Server

Document Information

Modified date:
29 November 2023

UID

swg24009281