Understanding file control

CICS® data management services have traditionally been known as CICS file control. CICS file control offers you access to data sets that are managed by either the Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) or the basic direct-access method (BDAM).

CICS file control lets you read, update, add, and browse data in VSAM and BDAM data sets and delete data from VSAM data sets. You can also access CICS shared data tables and coupling facility data tables using file control.

A CICS application program reads and writes its data in the form of individual records. Each read or write request is made by a CICS command.

To access a record, the application program must identify both the record and the data set that holds it. It must also specify the storage area into which the record is to be read or from which it is to be written.