The sample autoinstall control program for programs, DFHPGADX

The CICS-supplied default autoinstall program is an assembler-language command-level program, named DFHPGADX. The source of the default program is provided in COBOL, PL/I, and C, as well as in assembler language. The names of the supplied programs and their associated copy books, and the CICSTS31.CICS libraries in which they can be found, are summarized in Table 30.

Table 30. Sample programs and copy books for program autoinstall
Language Member name Library
Executable file:
 
Assembler only
 
 
DFHPGADX
 
 
SDFHLOAD
Program source:
 
Assembler
COBOL
PL/I
C
 
 
DFHPGADX
DFHPGAOX
DFHPGALX
DFHPGAHX
 
 
SDFHSAMP
SDFHSAMP
SDFHSAMP
SDFHSAMP
Copy books:
 
Assembler
COBOL
PL/I
C
 
 
DFHPGACD
DFHPGACO
DFHPGACL
DFHPGACH
 
 
SDFHMAC
SDFHCOB
SDFHPL1
SDFHC370

Customizing the sample program

You can write your autoinstall control program in any of the languages supported by CICS®, with full access to the CICS application and system programming interfaces.

If you customize the supplied control program, or write your own version, you should note the following:

Important

When creating an autoinstalled program definition, CICS ignores the program language specified on the model program definition. CICS determines the language from the load module itself, when the autoinstalled program is invoked.

However, CICS does not deduce characteristics other than language from the load module. These other program characteristics must be explicitly defined by the autoinstall control program or by RDO. If your programs have varying characteristics (varying AMODE or DATALOCATION requirements, for example), you must be able to distinguish between the various types when using autoinstall. You could do this by keeping a list of exceptions to the default characteristics, and coding your autoinstall control program to refer to this list; or you might decide to install explicit RDO definitions of the exceptions.

Resource definition

The autoinstall control program cannot itself be autoinstalled, nor can any program it references. You must define a program resource definition in the CSD for the control program and for any other programs it references. You must also ensure these definitions are installed in the CICS region during startup by including the group containing the definitions in your startup grouplist. If you specify an invalid name for the control program, CICS disables the program, thus disabling the program autoinstall function.

The following program resource definitions are supplied by CICS for the autoinstall control program; the default is the assembler version, DFHPGADX. If these definitions are not suitable for your use, you can create your own, using RDO or the DFHCSDUP utility.

Testing and debugging your program

You can use the CICS execution diagnostic facility (EDF) to help you test your autoinstall control program. However, EDF is inhibited for programs with names that begin with the letters DFH; so to use EDF you must name your program something other than one of the default names.

Related concepts
Autoinstalling programs--preliminary considerations
Benefits of autoinstalling programs
Related tasks
Rewriting user-replaceable programs
Assembling and link-editing user-replaceable programs
Related reference
Requirements for program autoinstall
The autoinstall control program at INSTALL
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