Automatic transaction initiation

If a BMS ROUTE message is sent to a terminal that has a TCT entry but is not logged on, CICS® saves the message for subsequent delivery. In addition, if the TCT entry so specifies, CICS attempts to acquire the terminal and log it on for that purpose. CICS attempts to satisfy other ATI requests (EXEC CICS START or a transient data trigger level) in the same way.

The use of autoinstall for printers is severely limited because almost all transactions for printers are initiated automatically. It is possible to autoinstall printers, however, if you arrange for them to be logged on. Entering VARY NET,...,LOGON as a console command does this.

For an autoinstalled terminal, a TCT entry may be available even when the terminal is logged off. This happens only if the terminal has been logged on earlier in the CICS run, and depends on the TYPETERM definition, the system initialization parameters, and the SNT entry for the last user of the terminal. For details, see Automatic sign-off, logoff, and TCTTE deletion. If a TCT entry exists, an autoinstalled terminal can accept an ATI request just like an individually defined terminal.

If you choose autoinstall for terminals that might receive ATI requests, make use of the AUTOCONNECT attribute on the TYPETERM definition for your models. AUTOCONNECT(YES) means that the terminal is logged on to CICS automatically at an emergency restart (see Figure 2), by CICS requesting a VTAM® SIMLOGON (simulated logon). (Because this requires a TCT entry, it does not happen at cold or warm start.)

You may find that setting up a printer-owning region is the best approach, especially if you have distributed printing with many small printers.

Whether or not you autoinstall your printers, you can associate a printer and an alternate printer with a display device. The association is made when the display device is autoinstalled. Definitions for these printers need not have been installed at the time the display device is autoinstalled, but they must exist at the time of use.