How to migrate RPG II online applications to CICS TS for z/VSE®

Note that this description applies both to CICS TS for z/VSE 2.1 and CICS TS for z/VSE 2.2. Users who already migrated their RPG II online applications on z/VSE 6.1 and performed a FSU to z/VSE 6.2 are not affected.

Initially, RPG online applications were restricted to the CICS/VSE environment and could not be run with CICS® Transaction Server for VSE/ESA. This changed with the end of service of CICS/VSE 2.3 in October 2012. An RPG PTF (UK60655) was provided, that allows to run RPG online applications with CICS TS for VSE/ESA and also with CICS TS for z/VSE. Please verify, if there are additional RPG PTFs available.

This topic describes:

  • The prerequisites to run RPG online applications with CICS TS for z/VSE
  • CICS TS program definitions to run RPG online applications
  • Migration aspects

Prerequisites

  1. Install the RPG compiler DOS/VS RPG II Release 1.3.0 from the optional product tape. It is installed in sublibrary PRD2.PROD.

    Ensure, that PTFs (including PTFs UK60655 and UK97635 ) are applied. If the z/VSE 6.1 optional product tape is used, all known PTFs at GA are already included.

  2. Run the jobs RPGINST and RPGSAMPL, which are provided in ICCF library 59. These jobs install CICS parts, among others the CICS RPG II pre-translator, in a newly created sublibrary PRD2.PRGII.

CICS TS RPG program definitions

  • Define the RPG program in CICS TS with Language=Assembler
  • Define the RPG program in CICS TS with Reload=Yes

CSD updates

  • Add program RPGIICLN to the CSD:
     DEFINE PROG(RPGIICLN) GROUP(group) DA(BELOW) LANG(A)
  • Add transaction CRPG to the CSD: 
     DEFINE TRANS(CRPG)GROUP(group)PROG(RPGIICLN)
    Transaction security for CRPG has to be allowed.

Users migrating from CICS TS for VSE/ESA to CICS TS for z/VSE

The RPG applications will run unchanged on CICS TS for z/VSE.

Users migrating from CICS/VSE to CICS TS for z/VSE

RPG online applications have to be recompiled and re-linked for CICS TS for z/VSE on your z/VSE 6.1 system. Modify your compile and link jobs:

  • Add sublibrary PRD2.RPGII in the LIBDEF SEARCH chain statement
  • Add PARM='CICSTS' in the EXEC RPGIAUTO statement: 
     // EXEC RPGIAUTO,SIZE=256K,PARM='CICSTS'
  • Link-edit including object ILNERI. INLERI is used in place of DFHERI. DFHERI must no longer be included in the link job. ILNERI must be the first object included in linking the phase. For example: 
          PHASE RPGPROG,*                                         
         INCLUDE ILNERI                                         
         INCLUDE ....
    A sample compile and link job is provided in ICCF library 2, member C$$RPONL. The same job is generated when you are using IUI compile option 8 with SOURCE TYPE 1 (Online Program) and LANGUAGE 5 (RPG II).