Accessibility of CICS Transaction Server

Accessibility features help a user who has a physical disability, such as restricted mobility or limited vision, to use software products successfully.

You can perform most tasks required to set up, run, and maintain your CICS® or CICSPlex® SM system in one of the following ways:
  • Using the CICS Explorer®
  • Using a 3270 emulator logged on to CICS.
  • Using a 3270 emulator connected to CICSPlex SM.
  • Using a 3270 emulator as an MVS system console.
  • Using the CICSPlex SM Web User Interface.

IBM® Personal Communications provides 3270 emulation with accessibility features for people with disabilities. You can use this product to provide the accessibility features you need in your CICS or CICSPlex SM system.

The CICS Explorer

The CICS Explorer uses hover help to provide you with extra information, however tool tips might not be readily available when using a screen reader such as JAWS. To enable JAWS to read hover help when using the CICS Explorer, use the following steps:
  1. Press Ctrl + Insert + number pad minus to tie the JAWS and PC cursors together. The JAWS cursor will follow the PC cursor as it moves around the screen.
  2. To save this setting across sessions, press Ctrl + Insert + number pad minus quickly twice.
  3. If JAWS is reading out too much information when reading the hover help or application dialogues, press Ctrl + Insert + number pad minus again to turn off tooltip reading.

Features accessed through a Web browser

The CICSPlex SM Web User Interface supports the standard shortcut keys provided on your web browser, and also incorporates several features to make navigation easier:
Skip to main content link
This link moves the cursor to the start of the main content. It is located immediately after the title in all menus and links except for View Editor screens.
Go back icon
This icon makes the web browser display the previous menu or view. It is available on both work frames and assistance frames.
Accessibility options
These server initialization parameters control the color of screen elements. You can customize the interface to make it more accessible for the visually impaired.
View Editor
You can use the View Editor to create customized views with screen content designed to match the needs of individual users.

If you use the Web Terminal Translation Application, DFHWBTTA, to access CICS-supplied transactions, you can use the accessibility features of your web browser.