The CICS catalog manager example application

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The CICS® catalog example application is a working COBOL application that is designed to illustrate best practice when connecting CICS applications to external clients and servers using Web services for CICS, and using Web service modules generated by Enterprise Service Tools.

The example is constructed around a simple sales catalog and order processing application, in which the end user can perform these functions:
  • List the items in a catalog.
  • Inquire on individual items in the catalog.(inquireSingle)
  • Order items from the catalog.
The catalog is implemented as a VSAM file.

Installation of the base catalog manager application is covered in the CICS 5.3 Transaction Server documentation. A Web client front end is provided with the catalog manager application. Configuration of the Web client is also described in the CICS 5.3 Transaction Server documentation. The Web client calls multiple Web Services that are provided by the base catalog example application after it has been enabled for Web services.

The base application

The base application, with its 3270 user interface, provides functions with which you can list the contents of a stored catalog, select an item from the list, and enter a quantity to order. The application has a modular design which makes it simple to extend the application to support newer technology, such as Web services.

This illustration shows the structure of the base application (for a detailed description of the application see Description of the catalog manager application).
Figure 1. Structure of the base application
Diagram showing the structure of the base application.