System message process (SYSMSG) function management header

IMS uses the system message process (SYSMSG) function management header to send system messages.

System messages are appended to an ATTACH carrying DPN=SYSMSG. CICS® routes these messages to a synchronous application when the session is allocated to that transaction or to destination CSMT at any other time. If routed to a transaction, that transaction is responsible for processing the SYSMSG function management header. CICS does not send SYSMSG, but a synchronous application program can cause a SYSMSG to be sent by setting the appropriate process name in the BUILD ATTACH. The application program is responsible for building the appropriate SYSMSG FMH to be appended to the ATTACH.

SYSMSG is sent by IMS for broadcast messages or for the case in which a response to input has been sent, but has had a subsequent processing error. After a response to asynchronous input, SYSMSG is sent in lieu of the reply message. During synchronous processing, SYSMSG is sent:
  • After a session restart, if the transaction in progress abends during the session outage
  • During MFS output, if MFS output format blocks are not available or are not valid