Compatibility between releases of CICSPlex SM

When you have written an API program to run under one release of CICSPlex® SM, you can continue to access the data provided by that release, or you can access the data available from a later release of the product.

In general, if you plan to access more than one release of the CICSPlex SM API, keep the following in mind:
Runtime environment
The runtime version of a CICSPlex SM API program is equal to the level of the CMAS to which it connects:
  • For a program written to run as a CICS® application, the run-time version is that of the CMAS to which the MAS is connected.
  • For a program written to run as a batch job or under NetView or TSO, the version is determined by the version of the CICSPlex SM runtime module (EYU9AB00), which is distributed in the version's SEYUAUTH library.
The runtime version of a program must be greater than or equal to:
  • The version of the stub routine module (EYU9AxSI) with which the program was link edited.
    • For CICS programs, the stub module is called EYU9AMSI and is distributed in the version's SEYULOAD library.
    • For batch, TSO, or NetView programs, the module is called EYU9ABSI and is distributed in the version's SEYUAUTH library.
    In addition, the version of the stub module for any separately link edited and called programs must be the same as the version used to link edit the program that issued the CONNECT command.
  • The value specified on the VERSION option of the CONNECT command.
Note: For programs written in REXX, the run-time version must be greater than or equal to the version of the function package (EYU9AR00), which is distributed in the version's SEYUAUTH library.
VERSION option
The VERSION option on the CONNECT command controls which release of CICSPlex SM resource tables are available to your program (resource tables are the external representation of CICSPlex SM data).
  • An API program cannot access data from a release of CICSPlex SM earlier than Release 2 (the release in which the API was introduced). The VERSION value must be set to 0120 or greater.
  • An API program cannot access data from a release of CICSPlex SM later than the run-time module that you specify. The VERSION value must be less than or equal to the release of the run-time module.
  • An API program can access data from a later release of CICSPlex SM than that which the program was originally written for, provided:
    • You compile your program using the appropriate copybooks for the version specified.
    • Your program is compatible with the copybooks for the version specified.
CONTEXT option
The CONTEXT option that is supported by various API commands determines which CICS systems your program receives data from. The CONTEXT value can be set to any CMAS or CICSplex running any currently supported release of CICSPlex SM. Note, however, that the release level of the CMAS or CICSplex must be the same as the release of the run-time module.
CURRENT option
When specifying the CURRENT option, the record pointer does not move (that is, a subsequent FETCH retrieves the same record). Previously, the record pointer moved to the next record. For further information, see Positioning the record pointer in a result set.