The routing transaction (CRTE)

The routing transaction (CRTE) is a CICS®-provided transaction that enables a terminal operator to invoke transactions that are owned by a connected CICS system. It differs from normal transaction routing in that the remote transactions do not have to be defined in the local system. However, the terminal through which CRTE is invoked must be defined on the remote system (or defined as "shippable" in the local system), and the terminal operator needs security authorization if the remote system is protected. For the security support available, see the CICS Intercommunication manual for each product.

CRTE can be used from any 3270 display device.

To use CRTE, the terminal operator enters:

CRTE SYSID=xxxx

where xxxx is the local name of the remote system. The transaction then indicates that a routing session has been established, and the user enters input of the form:

yyyyzzzzzz

where yyyy is the name by which the required remote transaction is known on the remote system, and zzzzzz is the initial input to that transaction. Subsequently, the remote transaction can be used as if it had been defined locally and invoked in the ordinary way. All further input is directed to the remote system until the operator terminates the routing session.

In secure systems, operators are normally required to sign on before they can invoke transactions. The first transaction that is invoked in a routing session is therefore usually the sign-on transaction CESN; that is, the operator signs on to the remote system. The use of CRTE itself can also be restricted by security.

Although the routing transaction is implemented as a pseudoconversational transaction, the terminal from which it is invoked is held by CICS until the routing session is terminated. Any ATI requests that name the terminal are therefore queued until the CANCEL command is issued.

The CRTE facility is particularly useful for invoking the master terminal transaction, CEMT, on a particular remote system. It is an alternative to installing a definition of the remote CEMT in the local system. CRTE is also useful for testing remote transactions before final installation.

Related concepts
Introduction to transaction routing
Initiating transaction routing
The relay program
Basic mapping support
Related reference
CICS product communication support
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