Command format

The general format of a CICS® command is EXECUTE CICS (or EXEC CICS) followed by the name of the required command, and possibly by one or more options, as follows:

EXEC CICS command [ option [ (arg) ] ]….

where:

command: Describes the operation required (for example, READ).
option: Describes any of the many optional facilities that are available with each function. Some options are followed by an argument in parentheses. You can write options (including those that require arguments) in any sequence.
arg: (Short for argument) are values such as data-value, name, or data-area. Depending on the type that is given in the argument value, these can supply data to, or receive data from, CICS. For example, an argument value of data-value can be a constant, which would mean that the argument provides data to CICS. Examples of argument values that receive data from CICS are a data-area or a ptr-ref. For further information, see API command argument values.

The EXEC CICS commands are not case-sensitive.

An example of a CICS command:

EXEC CICS READ
          FILE('FILEA')
          INTO(FILEA)
          RIDFLD(KEYNUM)
          UPDATE

You must add the appropriate end-of-command delimiter. This is described in Conventions used in EXEC CICS commands.