CICSP - Environment Parameters for Natural CICS Interface

This Natural profile parameter can only be specified with the NTCICSP macro, dynamic parameter specification is not possible yet.

Note:
The availability of NTCICSP depends on the version of Natural CICS Interface installed at your site.

The NTCICSP macro is used to define environment-specific parameters for Natural session options relevant in a CICS environment.

Possible settings See below.
Default setting See below.
Dynamic specification no
Specification within session no

This section covers the following topics:

NTCICSP Macro Syntax

The NTCICSP macro is specified as follows: 

         NTCICSP BACKEND=value,                                        *
               BACKOUT=value,                                          *
               BACKRPL=value,                                          *
               CALLRPL=value,                                          *
               CHAP=value,                                             *
               CNTCALL=value,                                          *
               COMARET=value,                                          *
               DIRNAME=value,                                          *
               DUPTID=value,                                           *
               FDTPX=value,                                            *
               LOGDEST=value,                                          *
               MEMOBJR=value,                                          *
               MSGDEST=value,                                          *
               MSGPFX=value,                                           *
               MSGTRAN=value,                                          *
               PREFIX=value,                                           *
               PRMDEST=value,                                          *
               PSTRNID=value,                                          *
               RCVASYN=value,                                          *
               RESENDC=value,                                          *
               RESENDS=value,                                          *
               RJEDEST=value,                                          *
               SLCALL=value,                                           *
               SLNOHLD=value,                                          *
               SNDLAST=value,                                          *
               STORVIO=value,                                          *
               TERMVAR=value,                                          *
               TIOBSZ=value,                                           *
               TRANCHK=value,                                          *
               TTYCNSL=value,                                          *
               UCTRAN=value,                                           *
               UNITID=value,                                           *
               USERID=value

See Keyword Subparameters.

Keyword Subparameters

BACKEND | BACKOUT | BACKRPL | CALLRPL | CHAP | CNTCALL | COMARET | DIRNAME | DUPTID | FDTPX | LOGDEST | MEMOBJR | MSGDEST | MSGPFX | MSGTRAN | PREFIX | PRMDEST | PSTRNID | RCVASYN | RESENDC | RESENDS | RJEDEST | | SLCALL | SLNOHLD | SNDLAST | STORVIO | TERMVAR | TIOBSZ | TRANCHK | TTYCNSL | UCTRAN | UNITID | USERID

BACKEND - Back-End Program Invocation Control

BACKEND=value defines whether a specified back-end program or transaction is to be invoked after the session has terminated (normally or abnormally).

The BACKEND parameter has two sub-parameters. The second sub-parameter is optional. It controls if a back-end program is to be invoked in the event of a terminal error. This also includes session clean-up tasks started by NEP.

Possible values are ON/OFF for both sub-parameters, but the default values are different.

Value Explanation
ON

Same as BACKEND=(ON,OFF).

This is the default if the BACKEND parameter is omitted. A potential back-end program or transaction is always invoked, particularly after task abends, but not in the case of terminal errors.

When a back-end program is invoked, the Natural termination message and return code are passed to the CICS transaction work area (TWA). In addition, the same information can be passed to a CICS COMMAREA, as described with the BACKRPL parameter.

(ON,ON)

Same as BACKEND=(,ON). A potential backend program or transaction is always invoked, particularly after abends including terminal errors.

OFF Forces BACKEND=(OFF,OFF). A potential back-end program or transaction is only invoked if the Natural session has been terminated normally; that is, with a Natural termination message.

BACKOUT - Backout Transaction in the Case of Unrecoverable Abends

BACKOUT=value defines whether the Natural CICS Interface is to perform a transaction backout by means of an EXEC CICS SYNCPOINT ROLLBACK call or not.

Value Explanation
ON

All pending file updates are backed out.

This is the default value.
OFF All pending file updates are committed.

Because of its abnormal termination exit, the Natural CICS Interface intercepts all abends. If an abend is not recoverable, all resources of the abending session are released and the session is terminated via EXEC CICS RETURN; that is, it is terminated "normally" in terms of CICS. Thus, at the end of the task, "pending" file updates are not automatically backed out by CICS.

BACKRPL - Location of Parameter List for Back-End Program

BACKRPL=value controls where and how the back-end parameters are passed to a back-end program.

Value Explanation
ALL This is the default.

The Natural back-end parameter area mapped by macro NAMBCKP is passed both in the CICS TWA and in a CICS COMMAREA (including potential termination data).

COMA The Natural back-end parameter area mapped by macro NAMBCKP (including potential termination data) is passed in a CICS COMMAREA only, not in the CICS TWA.
DATA The Natural back-end parameter area mapped by macro NAMBCKP is passed in the CICS TWA only, a CICS COMMAREA just holds potential termination data; if no termination data is available, no COMMAREA is passed.
TWA The Natural back-end parameter area mapped by macro NAMBCKP is passed in the CICS TWA only, no CICS COMMAREA is passed.

Notes:

  1. The BACKRPL parameter replaces and supersedes the old NCIPARM parameter COMAMSG.
  2. This parameter applies to back-end programs only, not to back-end transactions.

CALLRPL - Location of Parameter List for External Subroutine Programs CALLed by Natural via EXEC CICS LINK

CALLRPL=value controls where and how the CALL parameter lists are passed to external subroutine programs.

Value Explanation
ALL This is the default.

The Natural parameter list addresses are passed both in the CICS TWA and in a CICS COMMAREA; the length of the passed COMMAREA is controlled by the second sub-parameter.

COMA The Natural parameter list addresses are passed in a CICS COMMAREA only, not in the CICS TWA; the length of the passed COMMAREA is controlled by the second sub-parameter.
TWA The Natural parameter list addresses are passed in the CICS TWA only, not in a CICS COMMAREA; that is, the COMMAREA length then is 0.

Possible values for the second sub-parameter are:

Value: Explanation:
2 This is the default.

Only the parameter address list address and the field description list address (R1 and R2, as described with the CALL statement) are passed in a CICS COMMAREA; that is, the COMMAREA length is 8.

3 The field length list address (R3, as described with the CALL statement) is passed in addition in a COMMAREA; that is, the COMMAREA length is 12.
4 The field length list address and the large field length list address (R4, as described with the CALL statement) are passed in addition in a COMMAREA; that is, the COMMAREA length is 16.

Example:

CALLRPL=(ALL,2)

This is the default setting.

Notes:

  1. The CALLRPL parameter replaces and supersedes the old NCIPARM parameters COMACAL and FLDLEN.
  2. The second sub-parameter applies only if the first sub-parameter is ALL or COMA.
  3. If the CICS TWA is to be used, it always holds all 4 parameter list addresses.
  4. If the CICS COMMAREA length is greater than 0, the last parameter address passed gets a flag saying it is the last address in the list. This flag is set in the high order bit in the address field.
  5. The CALLRPL parameter does not apply, when passing parameter values in a CICS COMMAREA (%P=C); a CICS COMMAREA then is used regardless of the CALLRPL parameter setting.

CHAP - Change Task's Dispatching Priority

CHAP=value defines how the Natural CICS Interface is to treat long-running tasks reaching the DBROLL and/or MAXROLL call limits.

Value Explanation
ON The task's dispatching priority is decremented by 1 every time it reaches the DBROLL and/or MAXROLL call limits. The original task dispatching priority is re-established at the next screen I/O.
OFF

The session is suspended.

This is the default value.

CNTCALL - CICS Call Passing Automatically Data in Container

With SET CONTROL 'P=C' the CALL statement parameter data is passed in a CICS COMMAREA on the EXEC CICS LINK rather than parameter data pointers. As a CICS COMMAREA is limited to 32 KB, EXEC CICS LINK with a COMMAREA greater than 32 KB will fail due to a LENGERR condition.

CNTCALL=value enables you to automatically use a container on EXEC CICS LINK when the data to be passed exceeds the maximum COMMAREA length of 32 KB. This functionality only works if the CICS Transaction Server in your z/OS environment supports channels and containers.

The default container name then is NCI-COMMAREA unless explicitly specified via the application programming interface USR4204N prior to the Natural CALL statement.

Value Explanation
ON When the COMMAREA data would exceed 32 KB, the Natural CICS Interface automatically uses a CICS container on the EXEC CICS LINK, using NCI-COMMAREA as default name.
OFF

When the COMMAREA data would exceed 32 KB, the Natural CALL statement fails with a NAT0920 message and reason code LENGERR (hexadecimal 16).

COMARET - CICS COMMAREA Usage for Task Control

COMARET=value defines whether the Natural CICS Interface is to take advantage of the CICS command level COMMAREA facility when terminating and restarting pseudo- conversational tasks.

Value Explanation
ON

A pseudo-conversational Natural task saves its restart information into a CICS COMMAREA, unless it has been invoked with EXEC CICS LINK or the equivalent CICS macro request.

This is the default value.
OFF

Forces Natural to place its restart information into CICS main temporary storage, which results in more overhead because of additional CICS service calls necessary to place and retrieve this information.

The CICS temporary storage key used consists of a prefix string (as defined with the NCMDIR parameter TSKEY (see the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation) and of the terminal ID. If running in a CICSplex environment, the CICS temporary storage key prefix must be defined in a CICS TST as REMOTE/SHARED to be accessible in all participating CICS regions.

Actually the COMARET parameter can provide compatibility to Natural Version 1 in terms of where to put pseudo-conversational restart data.

DIRNAME - Name of Natural CICS Interface System Directory Module

DIRNAME=value specifies the name of the Natural CICS Interface system directory module.

Value Explanation
(see below) Any valid module name.
prefixCB

prefix is the common prefix for programs and files, see PREFIX parameter.

This is the default value.

The first 5 characters of the directory module name are also used as part of CICS temporary storage queue names related to the relevant NCI environment. So when running more than one Natural CICS environment in a CICS region, the relevant system directory module names must be different in the first 5 characters.

Note that the specified or defaulted Natural CICS Interface system directory module name may be modified at run-time via the NCI system directory module name exit interface NCIDIREX (see the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation). This makes it possible to use the same NCI driver/Natural parameter module, but use different NCI environments (thread groups/thread sizes, etc.) depending for example on CICS system ID, transaction ID.

DUPTID - Handle Duplicate Terminal ID

The Natural CICS Interface requires unique terminal IDs, because the terminal ID is the key for its session information records (SIRs). This is normally guaranteed for a single CICS region, but not necessarily over several CICS regions sharing the same SIP server.

DUPTID=value determines how the Natural CICS Interface has to deal with duplicate terminal IDs, that is, when a new session is to be started and an SIR already exists for this terminal ID.

Value Explanation
ON If a duplicate terminal ID is encountered, the Natural CICS Interface internally forces the old session to terminate and, after that, starts a new session.

This is the default value.
OFF When an SIR already exists for the new session's terminal ID, the Natural CICS Interface terminates the new session and issues the message NS19. For an explanation and remedial actions, see Natural under CICS Messages, SCP Processing Errors in the Messages and Codes documentation.

A terminal ID exit interface is available to create unique 8-character terminal IDs, for example, by appending the 4-character CICS system ID to the physical 4-character CICS terminal ID, which results in a logical Natural terminal ID.

FDTPX - Force Use of NCIDTPEX Exit for all Terminal Types

FDTPX=value determines whether the NCIDTPEX terminal I/O exit interface (see the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation) is called for all types of terminal used in your environment.

Value Explanation
ON The NCIDTPEX interface is called for all terminal types.
OFF The NCIDTPEX interface is only called for distributed transaction processing (DTP) using APPC or MRO conversions.

This is the default value.

LOGDEST - Natural CICS Logging Destination

LOGDEST=value specifies the name of a CICS destination, where the Natural CICS Interface writes its session log records to.

Value Explanation
name Any valid destination name.
NLOG This is the default value.

A CICS destination control table entry must be defined for the optional Natural CICS log data set.

MEMOBJR - Roll To Memory Object When Possible

In later versions of CICS TS, main temporary storage queues are allocated above the bar. When using CICS main temporary storage, roll data is split into temporary storage queue items with a maximum size of 32 KB each.

Depending on the CICS TS version installed at your site, CICS also supports the usage of memory objects for CICS applications. Allocating CICS memory objects for roll data means less overhead since the roll data must not be split.

Possible values for MEMOBJR=value are:

Value Explanation
ON Data is rolled by using CICS memory objects if supported by the CICS version installed at your site.

This is the default value.

OFF Data is rolled into CICS main temporary storage.

MSGDEST - Destination ID for Natural Error Message Logging

MSGDEST=value specifies the name of the CICS destination to be used by the Natural CICS Interface for NCI informational messages and to log the Natural session termination message if a session terminates abnormally.

Value Explanation
name Any valid destination name
NERR This is the default value.

Since these messages are in character format, any already available CICS destination (for example, CSSL) can be used rather than defining a new one.

MSGPFX - Generate NCI Message Prefix for WTL Messages

The Natural CICS Interface uses a prefix for all messages it sends to the MSGDEST destination. This prefix has a length of approximately 48 bytes and comprises the following information:

  • NCI message number,

  • CICS region SYSID,

  • terminal ID or the string ASYN for non-terminal tasks,

  • user ID,

  • transaction ID,

  • date and time.

By default, the message prefix is also appended to those messages which are output through CMWTL.

Possible values for MSGPFX=value are:

Value Explanation
ON The NCI message prefix is appended to all messages which are issued through CMWTL.

This is the default value.
OFF The NCI message prefix is not appended to the messages which are issued through CMWTL. The messages are issued unchanged.

MSGTRAN - Internal Message Switching Transaction ID

MSGTRAN=value specifies the transaction ID internally used by the Natural message switching and asynchronous session flushing facilities.

This parameter has the same meaning as the MSGTRAN parameter in the NCIZNEP module (see the Natural Installation documentation) and must be specified identically.

Value Explanation
(see below) Any valid CICS transaction ID.
NMSG This is the default value.

This transaction ID must be different from any transaction ID used to invoke Natural, and it must be defined in CICS.

PREFIX - Common Prefix for Programs and Files

PREFIX=value defines a common module prefix for the Natural CICS components as the Natural CICS system directory prefixCB, the CICS 3270 Bridge XFAINTU exit prefixXFA, the VSAM roll files prefixRn, where n =1 - 9, and system control records in CICS main temporary storage holding information about all permanent GETMAIN storages by the Natural CICS Interface as local pools and shared threads. The TS control record keys are of the form prefixXCR, where X is an unprintable character. In general, it is good practice to use this common prefix for all programs that relate to the Natural CICS Interface, for example, prefixDRV for the Natural CICS Interface module, prefixNEP for the Natural CICS Interface node error program.

Value Explanation
XXXXX The prefix can be 1 to 5 bytes long and must conform to the naming conventions for programs and files.

No default value is provided.

PRMDEST - Name of the Natural CICS Profile Parameter Input Destination

PRMDEST=value specifies the name of a CICS destination containing Natural dynamic profile parameters.

Value Explanation
name Any valid destination name
NPRM This is the default value.

At system initialization time, the Natural CICS Interface retrieves Natural dynamic profile parameters and saves them in its environment. At session start, potential other profile parameters (entered by way of terminal input or by a front-end caller) are concatenated at the end of the parameter string which was retrieved from the PRMDEST destination, that is, explicit dynamic profile parameters can be used to overwrite the Natural CICS Interface system profile parameters read from PRMDEST.

A CICS destination control table entry must be defined for the optional Natural CICS Interface profile parameter input destination, normally an extra partition destination.

PSTRNID - Control of *INIT-PROGRAM Variable Setting

When a Natural task is activated by a front-end program, the PSTRNID parameter determines, how the Natural system variable *INIT-PROGRAM is set.

Possible values for PSTRNID=value are:

Value Explanation
ON *INIT-PROGRAM is set to the actual transaction ID used for Natural CICS pseudo-conversational task processing, which is not necessarily the transaction ID of the task which originally started the Natural session.

This is the default value.
OFF *INIT-PROGRAM is set to the transaction ID of the task, which originally started the Natural session.

RCVASYN - Recover Asynchronous Session

RCVASYN=value defines how the Natural CICS Interface treats asynchronous sessions.

Value Explanation
ON This is the default value.

The Natural CICS Interface forces some Natural profile parameter settings for non-terminal sessions to prevent unexpected input or abends due to NT06, NT11 or other I/O errors.

RCVASYN=ON forces the following parameter settings:

  • CM=OFF,MENU=OFF,PC=OFF

  • TTYPE=ASYL if the SENDER specification is blank, not specified or a CICS transient data queue, or if CONSOLE is specified (see Asynchronous Natural Sessions under CICS in the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation).

  • SENDER='msgdest' if the SENDER specification is blank or not specified.

  • OUTDEST='sender' if the OUTDEST specification is blank or not specified.

  • INTENS=1,EJ=OFF if the SENDER specification is CONSOLE or a CICS transient data queue which is not set up for print control characters.

OFF The Natural CICS Interface does not do anything specific for non-terminal sessions; it is the user's responsibility to set appropriate Natural profile parameters for an asynchronous Natural session; see Asynchronous Natural Processing.

RESENDC - Check for Screen Re-sending after Subroutine Calls

Natural optimizes the 3270 output data stream by default. The screen imaging technique used by Natural makes it possible for Natural to always remember the map most recently sent. Thus, when sending a new map, Natural actually sends "updates" of the old map only. With this logic, a screen image can get destroyed by 3GL programs called by Natural which perform screen I/Os themselves.

Possible values for RESENDC=value are:

Value Explanation
ON The Natural CICS Interface checks whether any called 3GL programs have performed screen I/Os. If so, the Natural CICS Interface causes Natural to send a full screen with the next screen I/O.

This is the default value.
OFF The Natural CICS Interface causes Natural to send only updates.

RESENDS - Screen Re-send Check after Pseudo-Conversational Session Resume

Natural optimizes the 3270 output data stream by default. The screen imaging technique used by Natural makes it possible that Natural always remembers the map most recently sent. Thus, Natural only sends "updates" when sending a new map, too. With this logic a screen image can get destroyed, for example, by message switching (CICS CMSG transaction) during pseudo-conversational screen I/O.

Possible values for RESENDS=value are:

Value Explanation
ON During the Natural session, the Natural CICS Interface also recognizes screen I/Os from outside and causes Natural to re-send the screen most recently issued.

This is the default value.
OFF Natural only sends "updates" when sending a new map.

RJEDEST - Name of the Natural CICS Submit Destination

RJEDEST=value applies to z/OS-type operating systems only.

Value Explanation
(see below) Destination name.
NRJE This is the default value.

RJEDEST specifies the destination name of the CICS extra partition destination used by the NATRJE utility for submitting jobs via the JES internal reader facility.

Warning:
An appropriate CICS destination must be defined in the CICS DCT and start-up JCL; see also the corresponding step in Installing Natural CICS Interface on z/OS in the Natural Installation documentation.
Function code L or B (parm3 of the NATRJE CALL statement) must be set for the last NATRJE call.
When L is specified and nrje is an extra partition destination, the destination is closed, which in turn triggers the start of the internal reader.
When B is specified and nrje is an indirect destination, the destination is not closed; in this case, a trailing /*EOF card must be submitted in order to trigger the start of the internal reader.

For further information on the Natural NATRJE utility, refer to the Natural Utilities documentation.

SLCALL - Standard Linkage Call

The Natural CALL statement invokes a dynamic non-Natural program using CICS conventions, that is, via an EXEC CICS LINK. A dynamic non-Natural program can also be invoked with standard linkage conventions (for example, BALR/BASR/BASSM 14,15) if an appropriate indicator is set in the Natural program before the CALL statement is executed; see also the terminal command %P=S, %P=SC, %P=L and %P=LS.

Warning:
The terminal commands %P=S, %P=SC, %P=L and %P=LS bypass the SLCALL automatism of using a certain linkage convention.

SLCALL=value enables you to automatically use a certain linkage convention. This is particularly relevant in CICS systems where the CICS macro level API is no longer supported, which is the case in CICS Version 3.2 or above and in all CICS/TS versions.

Value Explanation
ON The Natural CICS Interface determines whether the module to be called is a valid CICS command level program by looking for the string DFH at the module's load point. If DFH is found, the program is invoked via an EXEC CICS LINK. If DFH is not found, the module is treated according to standard linkage conventions and is invoked via BALR/BASSM 14,15.
OFF The linkage convention is not used. This is the default value.

SLNOHLD - Load Option for External Programs to Be Invoked via Standard Linkage Conventions

SLNOHLD=value defines how the Natural CICS Interface treats non-LE external programs to be invoked via standard linkage conventions (that is, dynamic non-CICS programs and RCA programs) in a non-CICSPlex environment.

Value Explanation
ON This is the default value.

The Natural CICS Interface loads all non-LE external programs to be invoked via standard linkage conventions (including RCA programs) via EXEC CICS LOAD without the HOLD option, thus allowing these programs to be NEWCOPYed while the Natural session is suspended/waiting in a pseudo-conversational screen I/O.

SLNOHLD=ON corresponds to the processing which the Natural CICS Interface does for LE programs in general and for non-LE programs in a CICSPlex environment anyhow.

OFF This is how Natural worked eversince.

The Natural CICS Interface loads all non-LE external programs to be invoked via standard linkage conventions (including RCA programs) via EXEC CICS LOAD HOLD, that is, such a program is fixed in storage for some time depending on the DELETE profile parameter setting, RCA programs until session end.

SNDLAST - LAST Option Usage for EXEC CICS SEND Commands

SNDLAST=value is useful for SNA terminals (LUTYPE2) with bracket protocol to force "end bracket" for pseudo-conversational screen I/Os.

Value Explanation
ON The LAST option is used for EXEC CICS SEND commands before the task terminates in pseudo-conversational mode.

This is the default value.
OFF The LAST option is not used.

STORVIO - Storage Violation Trap

STORVIO=value provides for a storage violation trap for external program calls with call option %P=C(C).

Value Explanation
OFF The storage violation trap is deactivated.

This is the default value.
(mm,nn) The storage violation trap is activated by specifying any STORVIO sub-parameter.

The first sub-parameter specifies a tolerance value in the range from 0 to 255: the storage size for the extra %C(C) GETMAIN is increased by this value to try to prevent real CICS storage violations.

The second sub-parameter specifies, how to react on a detected storage violation. Possible values:

0 Just a NCI0250 storage violation message is issued, no other special interaction.

This is the default value for sub-parameters.

1 - 32767 In addition to the NCI0250 message, a NAT0920 condition is raised with the specified value passed as reason code; as in the CICS world the NAT0920 reason code normally holds the EIBRESP value of a failing EXEC CICS LOAD or LINK request, it is recommended not to specify a value in the range of valid CICS EIBRESP values, that is, better leave values 1 to 255 to CICS.
32768 or higher In addition to the NCI0250 message, an S0C3 abend is forced, which raises a NAT0954 condition.

TERMVAR - Terminal ID Variable for Natural Work Files

TERMVAR=value enables a Natural user to have exclusive Natural work files under CICS without having to know the terminal ID.

Value Explanation
xxxx Variable xxxx is a four-character string. See explanation below.
&TID This is the default value.

As terminal IDs are unique in a CICS system, exclusive work files in CICS temporary storage usually contain the CICS terminal ID. The parameter TERMVAR allows you to define a variable. If this variable is found in a work file name, it will be replaced by the actual terminal ID. Strings with non-alphanumeric characters must be enclosed in apostrophes (').

Note that for non-terminal sessions the packed CICS task number is used as a logical terminal ID.

Warning:
The variable string must not contain the substring '**', because Natural will replace this substring with the work file number, which makes it impossible to insert the terminal ID.

TIOBSZ - Size of the Natural Terminal I/O Buffer

TIOBSZ=value specifies the size of the Natural terminal I/O buffer.

Value Explanation
8 - 60 Size of the terminal I/O buffer in KB.
16

This is the default value.

TRANCHK - Check Input Map for Transaction ID

If a connection to a CICS session gets lost or dropped (for example under VM or, when a session manager is installed) without having terminated the session, another user can get into this open session when calling CICS. Usually, the first action of a user in a CICS environment is to enter a transaction ID.

Possible values for TRANCHK=value are:

Value Explanation
ON The Natural CICS Interface checks whether the first 4 bytes of the transaction ID entered by the user matches the Natural transaction ID. If so, the Natural CICS Interface assumes a "restart" after a connection has been lost or dropped. All resources of the "old" session are freed and a new session is started.
OFF

Data entered by the user are not checked for the Natural transaction ID.

This is the default value.

TTYCNSL - Control Console Communication

This parameter is for compatibility with previous versions of the Natural CICS Interface. TTYCNSL=value controls session and device characteristics for Natural sessions started through a console device by using, for example, the MODIFY command.

Value Explanation
ON The *DEVICE system variable is set to TTY: communication with the console is in 3270 data stream holding TTY control orders.

The PSEUDO profile parameter is evaluated allowing or disallowing the session to run in pseudo-conversational mode.

OFF The *DEVICE system variable is set to BATCH forcing batch/command-line mode: each line is output separately to the console by an EXEC CICS WRITE OPERATOR command.

The PSEUDO profile parameter is ignored: the session runs in conversational mode to indicate that a session is pending.

This is the default value.

UCTRAN - Lower/Mixed Case Support in Natural

UCTRAN=value enables or disables the lower/mixed case support by the Natural CICS Interface.

Value Explanation
ON Same as UCTRAN=(ON,ON). NCI lower/mixed case support is fully enabled.

This is the default value.
OFF Same as UCTRAN=(OFF,ON). NCI lower/mixed case support is disabled for pseudo-conversational screen I/Os.

The first subparameter controls NCI mixed case support after a pseudo-conversational screen I/O, while the second subparameter controls NCI mixed case support after a conversational screen I/O; the latter also includes NTC uploads.

First Subparameter (pseudo-conversational screen I/Os)

To accomplish lower/mixed case support for pseudo-conversational Natural sessions, it is necessary that the terminal input be not already translated to upper case before the Natural nucleus gets control. Therefore, the Natural CICS Interface by default switches terminals defined with UCTRAN(ON) into mixed mode (UCTRAN(TRANID)) for the lifetime of the Natural session.

As for security reasons any modification of CICS definitions/control blocks may not be desired, the Natural CICS Interface can be prevented from modifying a terminal's upper case translation status by setting this NTCICSP parameter UCTRAN to OFF. If so, the user must define a terminal as running in "lower case" (CICS TYPETERM parameter UCTRAN(TRANID/OFF)) to be able to use the Natural lower/mixed case support.

As all CICS versions supported by the current Natural Version provide "case switching" on transaction level via the UCTRAN parameter in a transaction's PROFILE, this NTCICSP parameter should be set to OFF, thus leaving lower/mixed case support to CICS.

Note:
In CICS, the combination of the UCTRAN parameters in both TYPETERM and PROFILE definitions determine how CICS treats the terminal input of a pseudo-conversational transaction (for details see CICS Resource Definition Manual or others). Therefor it is always advisable that mainly the PROFILE associated to a transaction defines the required upper case translation status thus making an application unaffected by any TYPETERM upper case translation mode changes.

Second Subparameter (conversational screen I/O)

Lower/mixed case support for conversational I/Os means that the Natural CICS Interface uses the "as is" option on the CICS terminal input requests (CONVERSE/RECEIVE ASIS). If the second subparameter is set to OFF, the Natural CICS Interface does the conversational CICS terminal input requests without the "as is" option,

UNITID - Establish Unique Terminal IDs

UNITID=value helps make the CICS terminal ID for Natural purposes unique over more than one CICS region.

Value Explanation
ON The Natural CICS Interface appends a CICS system ID (local SYSID if no MRO, otherwise TOR SYSID) to the 4-byte CICS terminal ID, thus creating an 8-byte logical terminal ID.
OFF

The Natural CICS Interface uses the CICS terminal ID as it is.

This is the default value.

This parameter is of interest when resources are shared as SIP server or roll server by several CICS regions, particularly in non-CICSplex: If the same terminal IDs are used in several CICS environments, this parameter helps to provide unique terminal IDs for Natural. Inside the Natural CICS Interface, Natural terminal IDs are 8-byte fields, and a combination of 8-byte terminal ID and 8-byte CICS user ID is taken as key for SIP and the roll server.

The result of this parameter is used by the Natural CICS Interface for the session key and the roll server key and by Natural for the system variable *INIT-ID.

Notes:

  1. A terminal ID exit (NCITIDEX) possibly will post-process that logical terminal ID. (NCITIDEX is described in the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation.)
  2. Also a user ID exit (NCIUIDEX and NATUEX1) may post-process the *INIT-ID system variable. (NCIUIDEX is described in the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation, NATUEX1 in the Operations documentation.)
  3. This parameter also applies to Natural Advanced Facilities (NAF) printers, that is, the printers have to be defined appropriately in the NAF spooling and report management system NATSPOOL, or a user ID exit should be used to post-process the *INIT-ID for printers.
  4. For non-terminal sessions, the Natural CICS Interface always sets up an 8-byte logical terminal ID consisting of the packed CICS task number and the CICS system ID; that is, UNITID=ON is forced for asynchronous tasks with the CICS task number taken as terminal ID.

USERID - Deal with CICS User ID

USERID=value defines how Natural under CICS should deal with a CICS user ID for a Natural session.

The first subparameter is for terminal bound CICS sessions, the second subparameter for non-terminal, that is, asynchronous, DPLEd, etc. CICS sessions, the third subparameter is for program-to-program sessions, that is, DTP, APPC.

Value Explanation
ANY Any non-blank value returned by EXEC CICS ASSIGN USERID (..) is considered to be valid.

This is the default value.
ON A non-blank value returned by EXEC CICS ASSIGN USERID (..) is considered to be valid if it is different from the CICS default user ID and, for terminal bound sessions only, if the user has signed on in CICS.
OFF The value returned by EXEC CICS ASSIGN USERID (..) is ignored.

Further Processing

When a CICS user ID is invalid or ignored, the edited (unpacked) CICS task number is taken for non-terminal, that is, asynchronous or DPLed, etc., CICS sessions; for terminal bound sessions, the 3-byte CICS operator ID is taken when it is non-blank, otherwise the CICS terminal ID is taken; for DTP sessions the pseudo terminal ID is taken.

Notes:

  1. CICS terminal IDs are unique within a CICS region, while CICS user IDs and operator IDs are not necessarily unique. However, CICS terminal IDs may have duplicates in other CICS regions resulting in duplicate user IDs in Adabas.
  2. Natural user ID exit NATUEX1 (see the Operations documentation) or Natural CICS user ID exit interface NCIUIDEX (see the TP Monitor Interfaces documentation) may be used to customize the content of the system variable *INIT-USER.
  3. The USERID parameter replaces the old NCIPARM parameter SIGNON.

Example of NTCICSP Macro

         NTCICSP PREFIX=NCI83,                                      *
               DIRNAME=NCI83,                                       *
               BACKRPL=COMA,                                        *
               CALLRPL=COMA