Natural Print and Work Files under CICS

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# Natural Print and Work Files under CICS

This document discusses the use of Natural print and work files under CICS.

It covers the following topics:

- Customizing Print and Work File Usage

- CICS Temporary Storage Print and Work Files

- CICS Transient Data Print and Work Files

## Customizing Print and Work File Usage

Natural CICS Interface supports Natural print and work files in CICS either as CICS transient data queues or as CICS temporary storage queues, both auxiliary and main.

To customize usage, set the following subparameters in the `PRINT` and `WORK` profile parameter:

    AM=CICS, TYPE=TD/AUX/MAIN, DEST=queuename

For more information, follow the links shown below:

- `WORK` profile parameter description and how to set the above subparameter values, see the `NTWORK` parameter macro.

- `PRINT` profile parameter description and how to set the above subparameter values, see the `NTPRINT` parameter macro.

Natural CICS Interface print file support has been provided for tracing and logging purposes. It is not intended for dealing with reports. In particular, the keyword parameters for `DEFINE PRINTER` such as `PRTY`, `CLASS`, `COPIES`, etc., are not honored at all.

## CICS Temporary Storage Print and Work Files

CICS temporary storage queues, both auxiliary and main, for CICS print and work files are RECFM=V files by design, available for input and output.

Although in Natural under CICS there is no exclusive control of a specific TS queue by a Natural session, you can automatically create session- or terminal-dependent printfiles or work files by specifying the string defined in the `NTCICSP` macro parameter `TERMVAR` (`&TID` is the default) in the subparameter `DEST` of profile parameter `PRINT` or in the subparameter `DEST` of the profile parameter `WORK`. When such a string is found within the eight-character `DEST` subparameter, it is replaced by the actual terminal ID.

### In CICSplex Environment

When running in a CICSplex environment, Natural print and work files in CICS temporary storage must be defined as `TYPE=SHARED` or `TYPE=REMOTE` in a CICS TST.

### NCI System Queues

In Natural under CICS, NCI system queues cannot be accessed. (NCI system queues are TS queues with a prefix defined in the `TSKEY` parameter of macro `NCMDIR`.)

## CICS Transient Data Print and Work Files

A CICS transient data queue for a Natural CICS print and work file must be defined in the CICS DCT. For indirect destinations, the attributes of the base destinations are propagated. In particular, the attributes of an extra-partition destination, such as `RECFM` or `TYPEFLE`, determine the Natural work file attributes.

Intra-partition destinations have `RECFM=V` set by design and are available for both input and output.

CICS transient data print and work files are "shared files" in the sense that more than one session may issue I/O operations against such a file.

### On this page

- Customizing Print and Work File Usage
- CICS Temporary Storage Print and Work Files
- CICS Transient Data Print and Work Files