Overview

REXX/CICS introduces REXX language Client/Server support. REXX/CICS provides a high-level client/server capability. This capability includes:

High-level, Natural, Transparent REXX Client Interface

REXX/CICS supports a high-level easy to use interface from client REXX execs to application servers through the ADDRESS keyword instruction in REXX. The ADDRESS instruction includes an external environment name that is used to determine the name of the external procedure that is called to process subsequent REXX command strings.

REXX/CICS provides the optional ability for the environment name (specified in the ADDRESS instruction) to be the name of an application server. This capability is provided by the REXX/CICS DEFCMD and DEFSCMD commands.

The DEFCMD command provides the ability to define (or redefine) REXX commands and environments, and it provides the ability to specify whether an environment-command combination is to be handled by a traditional CALLed routine or by an REXX application server.

Support for REXX-based Application Clients and Servers

In addition to the above REXX client interface, several facilities provide support for the use of application servers written in REXX. One of these facilities is the WAITREQ command, which is used by servers to wait for requests from clients. Another facility, the C2S and S2C commands, provide the ability for servers to fetch or set the contents of client variables. Another capability, Automatic Server Initiation (ASI) provides for servers to be started automatically when a request arrives from a client.