Lookaside

In many online operations, the operator sometimes needs to execute a second transaction in order to finish one in progress. Order entry is an example, where the operator may have to look up codes or prices to complete an entry.

Many inquiries are similar. The initial inquiry brings back a summary list of hits. The operator selects one and asks for further detail, then may need to select another for detail, and so on. In such cases, a partitioned screen allows the operator to do the second task while keeping the output of the first, which is needed later, on the screen. The CICS 4.1 Sample Applications Guide also contains an example of a lookaside transaction.

“Help” text is still another example of “lookaside”. If you allocate one partition of the screen to this text, the operator can get the required tutorial information without losing the main screen.