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DFHEIB - Execute Interface Block

Enhanced Definition

The `DFHEIB` (Execute Interface Block) is a CICS control block that provides an application program with information about the current task and the results of the most recently executed CICS command. It is automatically defined and populated by CICS for every task, serving as the primary communication area between CICS and the application program. The Execute Interface Block (DFHEIB) is a control block automatically created and managed by CICS (Customer Information Control System) for each active task. It serves as the primary communication area between a CICS application program (e.g., written in COBOL, PL/I, Assembler) and the CICS Transaction Server, providing crucial system and command-specific information.

Key Characteristics

    • Automatic Generation: CICS automatically defines and populates the DFHEIB for every CICS task, making it available to the application program without explicit declaration (though a COPY DFHEIBLK statement is typically used in COBOL).
    • Task-Specific Information: It contains vital information about the current task, such as the transaction ID (EIBTRNID), terminal ID (EIBTRMID), program name (EIBPGM), and the date and time (EIBDATE, EIBTIME).
    • Command Response Codes: The DFHEIB holds the response code (EIBRESP) and a more detailed response code (EIBRESP2) for the last CICS command executed, indicating success or the type of error encountered.
    • Read-Only for Applications: Most fields within the DFHEIB are read-only for the application program; CICS is responsible for updating them. Attempting to modify them can lead to unpredictable behavior or program abends.
    • Language-Agnostic Structure: While its definition varies slightly by language (e.g., DFHEIBLK for COBOL, DFHEIB for PL/I), the logical structure and content are consistent across CICS-supported programming languages.
    • Addressability: In COBOL, it's typically included using EXEC CICS ADDRESS EIB(DFHEIBPTR) or EXEC CICS ASSIGN EIBADDR(DFHEIBPTR) to establish addressability, though modern COBOL compilers often handle this implicitly when DFHEIBLK is copied.

Use Cases

    • Error Handling: After any CICS command, the application program checks `EIBRESP

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