Using detectable fields

When CICS® generates an HTML page from the 3270 data stream, it simulates detectable fields with a text input field preceded by a check box.

Attention: This topic contains Product-sensitive Programming Interface and Associated Guidance Information.

Before you begin

To use detectable fields, configure the bridge facility associated with the transaction. Refer to Enabling detectable fields.

About this task

Detectable fields are as follows:
  • The field attribute byte identifies the field as being detectable or intensified.
  • The primary character of the 3270 field contains a valid designator character. This character can be an ampersand (&), a greater then sign (>), a question mark (?), a blank, or a null.
For more information about detectable fields, see BMS field selection features.
When the check box and text input field are displayed on the web client, note these characters:
  • The designator character in the 3270 field is not displayed. Accordingly, the field length in the web client is one character shorter than it is in the 3270 data stream.
  • If the designator character is a greater than sign (>), the check box contains a check symbol (✓). Otherwise, the check box is empty.

To use the detectable field on the web client:

Procedure

  • Check the check box to simulate setting the modified data tag (MDT) bit in the 3270 data stream. Uncheck the box to set the modified data tag off.
    Entering data in the text field in the HTML page does not change the modified data tag.
  • To transmit data to the CICS application, check the check box , and select the DFH_PEN button.
    • If only one attention field is checked, the CICS application receives the contents of that field. The EIBAID field is set to DFHPEN.
    • If several attention fields are checked, the CICS application receives the contents of the field closest to row 1 and column 1 of the 3270 screen. The EIBAID field is set to DFHPEN.
    • If no attention fields are checked, CICS receives the contents of all the fields. The EIBAID field is set to DFHENTER.