Using system initialization control keywords

The purpose of these special keywords, and where you can code them, are described as follows:

SYSIN (SI)

This keyword tells CICS to read initialization parameters from the SYSIN data set.

Where to code SYSIN:   You can code SYSIN (or SI) only in the PARM parameter of the EXEC PGM=DFHSIP statement. The keyword can appear once only and must be at the end of the PARM parameter. CICS does not read SYSIN until it has finished scanning all of the PARM parameter, or until it reaches a .END before the end of the PARM parameter.

Examples:

//stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='SIT=6$,SYSIN,.END'
//stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='SIT=6$,DLI=YES,SYSIN,.END'

CONSOLE (CN)

This keyword tells CICS to read initialization parameters from the console. CICS prompts you with message DFHPA1104 when it is ready to read parameters from the console.

Where to code CONSOLE:   You can code CONSOLE (or CN) in the PARM parameter of the EXEC PGM=DFHSIP statement or in the SYSIN data set. This keyword can appear either at the end of the PARM parameter or in the SYSIN data set, but code it in one place only.

If you code CONSOLE (or CN) in the PARM parameter, and PARM also contains the SYSIN keyword, CICS does not begin reading parameters from the console until it has finished reading and processing the SYSIN data set. Similarly, wherever you place the CONSOLE keyword in the SYSIN data set, CICS does not begin reading parameters from the console until it has finished reading and processing the SYSIN data set.

Examples:

//stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='SIT6$,CONSOLE,.END'
//stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='CONSOLE,SYSIN,.END'
//stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='SIT=6$,CN,SI,.END'

If both SYSIN (or SI) and CONSOLE (or CN) appear as keywords of the PARM parameter, the order in which they are coded is irrelevant as long as no other keywords, other than .END, follow them.

.END

The meaning of this keyword varies:

PARM

The use of the .END keyword is optional in the PARM parameter. If you omit it, CICS assumes it to be at the end of the PARM parameter. If you code .END in the PARM parameter it can have one of two meanings:

1. If you also code one, or both, of the other control keywords (CONSOLE and/or SYSIN) .END denotes the end of the PARM parameter only.
   For example:

   //stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='SIT6$,SI,CN,.END'

2. If you code .END as the only control keyword in the PARM parameter, it denotes the end of all system initialization parameters, and CICS begins the initialization process. For example:

   //stepname   EXEC  PGM=DFHSIP,PARM='SIT=6$,.END'

If .END is not the last entry in the PARM parameter, CICS truncates the PARM parameter and the parameters following the .END keyword are lost.

SYSIN

The use of the .END keyword is optional in the SYSIN data set. If you omit it, CICS assumes it to be at the end of SYSIN. If you code .END in the SYSIN data set its meaning depends on your use of the CONSOLE keyword, as follows:

• If you code the CONSOLE control keyword in the PARM parameter or in the SYSIN data set, .END denotes the end of the SYSIN data set only.
• If you do not code the CONSOLE control keyword in the PARM parameter or in the SYSIN data set, .END denotes the end of all CICS system initialization parameters, and CICS begins the initialization process.

If you code .END, and it is not the last entry in the SYSIN data set, or not at the end of a SYSIN record, CICS initialization parameters following the .END are ignored. To avoid accidental loss of initialization parameters, ensure that the .END keyword is on the last record in the SYSIN data set, and that it is the only entry on that line. (However, if you want to remove some system initialization parameters from a particular run of CICS, you could position them after the .END statement just for that run.)

The following example shows the use of .END in a SYSIN data set:

//SYSIN   DD  *
* CICS system initialization parameters
SIT=6$,START=COLD,
PDIR=1$,             ( SUFFIX of PSB directory

.END
/*

CONSOLE

The meaning of .END through the console depends on whether you are entering new parameters or entering corrections. The two meanings are as follows:

1. If you are keying new parameters in response to message DFHPA1104, .END terminates parameter reading, and CICS starts initialization according to the SIT it has loaded, but modified by any system initialization parameters you have supplied. Until you enter the .END control keyword, CICS continues to prompt you for system initialization parameters.
2. If you have coded PARMERR=INTERACT, and CICS detects a parameter error, either in the keyword or in the value that you have assigned to it, CICS prompts you to correct the error with message DFHPA1912 or DFHPA1915. If you enter the correct keyword or value, initialization resumes with CICS continuing to process either the PARM parameter, the SYSIN data set, or prompting for more system initialization parameters through the console, depending on where CICS detected the error. If you cannot correct the error, but want CICS to continue with the initialization process, you can enter .END to end the error correction phase.