CICS: How to write TIME logic in Four Ways

In CICS, ASKTIME and FORMATTIME are two popular built-in macros in CICS.

CICS Time — CICS: How to write TIME logic in Four Ways

1. How to Use ASKTIME

ASK TIME

When you use ‘ASKTIME, it populates the default time, which set by your workshop admin. So to get local time, always use FORMATTIME convert it to local format.

2. How to Rest TIME

Below is the command to reset the time. It is usually perform by CICS admins.

CEMT PERFORM RESET

Then, it syncs to local time

3. How to Use EIBDATE and EIBTIME

Saying that ASKTIME and FORMATTIME are two available options to get TIME and to format it. However, you can find Time in EIBDATE and EIBTIME fields. These are Exec Interface Block times.

4. The Purpose of ASKTIME

The purpose of ASKTIME is to get timestamp for logging purpose.

Sample Program to Use FORMATTIME and ASKTIME

CICS Date/Time Functions

 WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
 01  WS-TIME         PIC S9(15) COMP-3 VALUE 0.
 01  PRINT-DATE      PIC X(08)  VALUE ‘12/01/99’.
 01  PRINT-TIME      PIC X(08)  VALUE ‘09:30:00’.
 …
 PROCEDURE DIVISION.
 …
 EXEC CICS
      ASKTIME  ABSTIME(WS-TIME)
 END-EXEC
 …
 EXEC CICS
      FORMATTIME  ABSTIME(WS-TIME)
                  MMDDYY(PRINT-DATE)
                  DATESEP(‘/’)

 END-EXEC
 …
 EXEC CICS
      FORMATTIME  ABSTIME(WS-TIME)
                  TIME(PRINT-TIME)
                  TIMESEP(‘:’)
 END-EXEC
**********   Other Formats Available   (There are more!)   **************
 EXEC CICS
      FORMATTIME  ABSTIME(WS-TIME)
                  YYDDD(DATA-AREA)  YY/DDD
                  YYMMDD(DATA-AREA) YY/MM/DD
 DATESEP(‘-‘)                       YY-MM-DD ]
* Following 4 receiving fields are defined as:   PIC S9(08) COMP.
  DAYOFWEEK(DATA-AREA)   Sun=0, Mon=1,…
  DAYOFMONTH(DATA-AREA)
  MONTHOFYEAR(DATA-AREA) Jan=1, Feb=2,…
  YEAR(DATA-AREA)   4 DIGIT YEAR!!
 END-EXEC