University of Connecticut

University Information Technolgy Services

Financial Records System (FRSPLUS)

Using CICS/NEWS With FRS

Introduction to CICS/NEWS

NEWS can be generated for broadcast to all CICS users, to selected gropus of users, or to an individual user. NEWS can be directed to CICS users by Operator ID, User ID, or Terminal ID.

NEWS can be one full screen (19 lines of 79 characters each). HELP screens are available throughout the system whether creating, changing, or just reading NEWS. Only those authorized can create NEWS items.

The most current NEWS is always displayed first, but the user is then free to browse forward or backward chronologically through NEWS that (s)he is authorized to read. The reader can go directly to NEWS of a specified date or to the oldest or newest (most current) NEWS.

Further information about the use of CICS/NEWS can be obtained from the CICS MORNING NEWS Installation Guide and User Manual.

Displaying CICS/NEWS Items

Policies For Using CICS/NEWS With FRS

1. CICS/NEWS is activated automatically when the user signs on to the FRS CICS region.
2. FRS NEWS items are targeted to ALL AUTHORIZED FRS users by using the routing group ‘@FRS’.
3. NEWS items are normally displayed to users for two working days; i.e. they are activated one working day prior to the event that they address. Longer activation periods may be appropriate but but these should be usedjudiciously to limit the impact on users when they sign onto CICS.
4. NEWS items are to be created in the standard format shown in the sample NEWS items below.

Sample CICS/NEWS Items For FRS

CICS/NEWS For Month-End Processing

CICS/NEWS For General Information

*** CICS/NEWS 08/03/94 11:39 FROM: UNIVERSITY COMPUTER CENTER
     ====================================================================
 
     ************** FINANCIAL RECORDS SYSTEM (FRS) ADVISORY MESSAGE ******(FRS888)*
     +                                                                                        +
     +   ATTENTION: (ENTER THE MESSAGE TEXT WITHIN THIS BOX.)                                 +
     +                                                                                        +
     +                                                                                        +
     +                                                                                        +
     +                                                                                        +
     ************************************************************************************************************
 
        ==========================> EXIT PROCEDURE <=====================
        +  1)  TO EXIT CICS/NEWS:                                                             +
        +       > TYPE ‘X’ IN THE "OPTION" FIELD BELOW AND PRESS <ENTER>, THEN                +
        +       > CLEAR THE SCREEN                                                            +
        +  2)  TO ENTER ANOTHER CICS APPLICATION:                                             +
        +       > TYPE THE APPLICATION CODE ON THE BLANK SCREEN AND PRESS <ENTER>             +
        +  OR,                                                                                +
        +  3)  TO EXIT CICS:                                                                  +
        +       > TYPE ‘LOGOFF’ ON THE BLANK SCREEN AND PRESS <ENTER>                         +
        ================================================================
     Option: N (X=Exit P=Prev N=Next L=Latest O=Oldest)
	    Beginning Date: PF1=Help PF3=End PF7=Prev PF8=Next PF10=Latest PF12=Oldest
     

CICS/NEWS For Emergency System Maintenance

*** CICS/NEWS 08/03/94 11:48 FROM: UNIVERSITY COMPUTER CENTER
     ====================================================================
 
     ************** FINANCIAL RECORDS SYSTEM (FRS) ADVISORY MESSAGE ******(FRS999)**
     +                                                                                       +
     + ATTENTION: THE FRS SYSTEM WILL BE OFFLINE DURING THE FOLLOWING PERIOD                 +
     +                                                                                       +
     +              FROM: IMMEDIATELY             UNTIL: FURTHER NOTICE                      +
     +                                                                                       +
     +              REASON: EMERGENCY SYSTEM MAINTENANCE                                     +
     *************************************************************************************************************
 
        =========================> EXIT PROCEDURE <======================
        +  1)  TO EXIT CICS/NEWS:                                                            +
        +       > TYPE ‘X’ IN THE "OPTION" FIELD BELOW AND PRESS <ENTER>, THEN                      +
        +       > CLEAR THE SCREEN                                                           +
        +  2)  TO ENTER ANOTHER CICS APPLICATION:                                            +
        +       > TYPE THE APPLICATION CODE ON THE BLANK SCREEN AND PRESS <ENTER>                   +
        +      OR,                                                                           +
        +  3)  TO EXIT CICS:                                                                 +
        +       > TYPE ‘LOGOFF’ ON THE BLANK SCREEN AND PRESS <ENTER>                               +
       =================================================================

     Option: P (X=Exit P=Prev N=Next L=Latest O=Oldest)
	    Beginning Date: PF1=Help PF3=End PF7=Prev PF8=Next PF10=Latest PF12=Oldest
     

Administrative Responsibilities For CICS/NEWS

FRS System Administrator

The FRS System Administrator is responsible for supplying the annual schedule for release of the monthly NEWS items pertaining to month-end processing. This schedule should be submitted in June each year directly to Scheduling Department. In addition, the FRS System Administrator is responsible for supplying the text of any new NEWS items together the with appropriate release schedule. These should also be submitted the directly to UITS Scheduling Department. Forms for the submissions are of these request provided at the end of this document.

UITS Scheduling Department

The UITS Scheduling Department has general administrative responsibility for maintaining CICS/NEWS. Thisincludes the addition, deletion, and changing NEWS items as well as the maintenance of routing groups.

UITS Administrative Services

The UITS Administrative Services group is responsible for providing technical support for CICS/NEWS as required. In addition, any changes to ACF2 CICSAIDs or CICS OPRIDs made by the ACF2 Security Administrator which affect FRS authorization should be reported to the UITS Scheduling Department so that routing group '@FRS' can be updated.

Maintenance Procedures for CICS/NEWS Items

Month-End Processing.

• FRS001 - July - Release 07/01/90 (FRS001 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS002 - August - Release 07/02/90 (FRS002 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS003 - September - Release 07/03/90 (FRS003 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS004 - October - Release 07/04/90 (FRS004 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS005 - November - Release 07/05/90 (FRS005 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS006 - December - Release 07/06/90 (FRS006 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS007 - January - Release 07/07/90 (FRS007 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS008 - February - Release 07/08/90 (FRS008 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS009 - March - Release 07/09/90 (FRS009 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS010 - April - Release 07/10/90 (FRS010 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS011 - May - Release 07/11/90 (FRS011 CICSNEWS E)
• FRS012 - June - Release 07/12/90 (FRS012 CICSNEWS E)

General Information.

FRS888 - General Information - Release 07/18/90 (FRS888 CICSNEWS E)

System Maintenance.

FRS999 - System Maintenance - Release 07/19/90 (FRS999 CICSNEWS E)

Activating CICS/NEWS Items

FRS Month-End Processing

NEWS items FRS001 through FRS012 for month-end processing are set up once each year in June to be activated automatically on the appropriate date to coincide with month-end processing. The schedule for these events is provided by the FRS System Administrator. To create the items for the new year, follow the procedures below:

1. Sign on to the FRS CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSU'.
3. Locate items FRS001 through FRS012 one at a time using the the release dates shown above.
4. When the item has been located, choose the REPLICATE function 'R'.
5. Schedule the item for activation using the 'RELEASE' and 'EXPIRATION' dates. dates provided. Normally the release and expiration dates should be only one or two days apart.
6. Exit CICS/NEWS and LOGOFF CICS when all items are created.

FRS General Information

When a general NEWS item for FRS is required, NEWS item FRS888 should be activated. To do this, follow the procedures below:

1. Sign on to the FRS CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSU'.
3. Locate item FRS888 using the release date 07/18/90.
4. When the item has been located, choose the REPLICATE function 'R'.
5. Enter the text of the message as requested.
6. Activate the item using the appropriate 'RELEASE' and 'EXPIRATION' dates.Normally the release and expiration dates should be only one or two days a part.
7. Exit CICS/NEWS and LOGOFF CICS.

FRS Emergency System Maintenance

When the FRS system is offline for unplanned maintenance or system recovery, NEWS item FRS999 should be activated. To do this, follow the procedures below:

1. Sign on to the FRS CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSU'.
3. Locate item FRS999 using the release date 07/19/90.
4. When the item has been located, choose the REPLICATE function 'R'.
5. Activate the item using the appropriate 'RELEASE' and and 'EXPIRATION' dates. Normally the release and expiration dates should be identical since it is assumed that emergency maintenance will be completed expeditiously.
Exit CICS/NEWS and deallocate FRS files using the standard deallocation methods.
6. LOGOFF CICS.

When the maintenance or recovery process is completed, delete active item FRS999 as follows:

1. Sign on to the FRS CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSU'.
3. Locate item FRS999 using the current date.
4. When the item has been located, choose the DELETE function 'D'.
5. Perform the DELETE operation.
6. Exit CICS/NEWS and allocate FRS files using the standard deallocation methods.
7. LOGOFF CICS.

Changing CICS/NEWS Items

The procedures below are to be followed when changing or NEWS deactivating items for the FRS application:

1. Sign on to the FRS CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSU'.
3. Locate the item you wish to change using its release dates (if that date is known). If the original date isn't known, the item can only be found by "paging" through all items in chronological order (either forward or backward).
4. When the item has been located, choose the CHANGE function 'C'.
5. Change the 'RELEASE' and 'EXPIRATION' dates as necessary.
6. Exit CICS/NEWS and LOGOFF CICS when all items are changed.

Deleting CICS/NEWS Items

The procedures below are to be followed when deleting NEWS items for the FRS application. NOTE: The individual performing the the DELETE function should be careful not to delete NEWS items that are currently active or scheduled for future activation, unless that is the intended operation. Furthermore, items FRS001 through FRS012 with Release dates of 07/01/90 through 07/12/90 and items FRS888 and FRS999 with Release dates of 07/18/90and 07/19/90 should NEVER be deleted from the system since these are the standard NEWS item templates for FRS.

1. Sign on to the FRS CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSU'.
3. Locate the item you wish to delete using its release date or by paging through the items. If deleting a series of items, they at a can be deleted one time by "paging" through the items in either direction.
4. When the item has been located, choose the DELETE function 'D'.
5. Perform the DELETE operation.
6. Exit CICS/NEWS and LOGOFF CICS when all required items are deleted.

CICS/NEWS Technical Installation Parameters

1. The standard installation options for CICS/NEWS are as follows:

   NWSM02 MacKinney Systems - CICS Morning News Installation Options Administrator Group: @ADMIN NWSA: NWSA Transaction Code to Add Morning News NWSU: NWSU Transaction Code to Update Morning News NWSS: NEWS Transaction Code to View Morning News NWSC: NWSC Transaction Code Invoking News After Signon Days to Keep: 002 Number of Days Before News Expires Return ID: NWXX Program/Tran to start after viewing news End of news: N Display end of news message (Y/N)

2. CICS/NEWS is automatically activated when the user signs on to the FRS CICS region. This function is controlled through the ACF2 startup PARMS for CICS which are maintained by the ACF2 Security Administrator.
3. Transaction 'NWXX' (which invokes COBOL program NEWSEXIT) is used to clear the screen and display the following message upon exit from CICS/NEWS, and also when there is no NEWS for an individual user to view.

   Clear the screen and begin your application.

4. CICS OPRID is set equal to the ACF2 CICSAID mnemonic for all users except NOTIS system users which require special OPRID's.
5. Routing group '@FRS' targets NEWS items to authorized FRS users through alist of authorized CICS OPRID's. Routing group '@FRS' contains the following CICS OPRID's:

   NWSM04 MacKinney Systems - CICS Morning News Entries for group: @FRS Enter valid TERMID, %USERID, #NETNAME and/or =OPID entries =AL3 =AL4 =FRS =FR1 =FR2 =FR3 =FR4 =FR5 =GN2 =GN4 =GN5 =GN7 =LI2 =LI4 =PR1 =TL5 =TL6

Additional information about the assignment of ACF2 CICSAID mnemonics and CICS OPRID's can be obtained from the ACF2 Security Administrator and the University Computer Center.

Maintenance Procedures For CICS/NEWS Technical Parameters

The need may arise to make changes to either the standard installation options or to routing groups. The appropriate procedures are presented in the sections below.

The procedures below are to be followed when changing standard installation options for CICS/NEWS:

1. Sign on to the desired CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSM'.
3. Select Option 1.
4. Make the desired changes and press <enter>.
5. Process the update using PF3.
6. Exit the Administration Menu using PF3.
7. Exit CICS/NEWS and LOGOFF CICS when changes are completed.

The procedures below are to be followed when changing routing groups for CICS/NEWS:

1. Sign on to the desired CICS region.
2. Enter transaction 'NWSM'.
3. Select Option 2.
4. Select the desired routing group.
5. Make the desired changes and process by pressing "enter key". NOTE: When adding entries to routing groups, special care should be taken to use the proper special character for the entry as indicated on the change screen. For the '@FRS' routing group, only OPRIDs are used and these are preceded by '=' (the equal sign).
6. Exit the Administration Menu using PF3.
7. Exit CICS/NEWS and LOGOFF CICS when changes are completed.

FRS CICS/NEWS Request Forms

Request forms for the creation or change of CICS/NEWS items are are presented after this section. There are four forms for month-end processing messages (one for each calendar quarter) and one for the general information message. These forms are to be completed by the FRS System Administrator and submitted to the UITS Scheduling Department for processing.

Guidelines For Completing FRS CICS/NEWS Requests Form

The following guidelines should be considered when completing the appropriate CICS/NEWS request forms and selecting the desired Release and Expiration dates for NEWS items.

A complete set of four month-end processing request forms should be submitted each year in June to reflect the month-end and year-end processing schedule for the upcoming fiscal year.

The FRS month-end processing event always takes place on the first business day of the month, unless the first business day is a Friday, in which case the month-end processing event takes place on the second business day of the month (The Computer Center is not fully staffed over the weekend to support an extended month-end processing schedule on Friday night.)

The Release date for month-end processing NEWS is usually one day working before the event takes place. The Expiration date is normally the date of month-end event at midnight.

The FRS system normally goes offline at 2:00 p.m. on the day of moth-end processing and is back online at approximately 8:00 a.m. the following day.

A general information request form should be submitted whenever a NEWS new item is desired.

When selecting the desired Release and Expiration dates for the NEWS item, please observe the general policy to limit the activation period for NEWS to not more than a few days unless an extended period is absolutely required.

Type the text of the desired message in the box provided. It should be noted that space on the display screen is limited to six lines, therefore, the desired message should be formatted accordingly.

Submit the request form to the UITS Scheduling Department at least one a week prior to the desired Release date.