Structure and content of CICS TS format journal records

System logs are always presented in CICS® TS format. Each general log comprises a stream of contiguous blocks of journaled data. Each block comprises a block header followed by a variable number of CICS journal records. Each CICS journal record comprises a record header followed by caller data.

Figure 1 gives a graphical overview of a general log, showing the format of a complete block, and the format of a complete journal record.

The format of the caller data depends on the CICS component that is issuing the journal record, and also on the function being journaled at the time. Thus, for example, the format of caller data in journal records issued by file control differs from that of caller data in journal records issued by FEPI.

Figure 1. Layout of a general log
The picture shows three rectangles, one above the other. The top rectangle consists of a series of log blocks. The middle rectangle is an expansion of one of the log blocks from the top rectangle. It consists of a block header, followed by a series of CICS journal records. The bottom rectangle is an expansion of one of the CICS journal records from the middle rectangle. It consists of a record header, followed by caller data.