Using the attention identifier

The attention identifier is part of the input in many applications, and you may also need it to interpret the input correctly.

For example, in the quick update transaction, we need some method for allowing the clerk to exit our transaction, and we have not yet provided for this. Suppose that we establish the convention that pressing PF12 causes you to leave control of the transaction. We would then code the following after our RECEIVE MAP command:

 IF EIBAID = DFHPF12,
EXEC CICS SEND CONTROL FREEKB ERASE END-EXEC
EXEC CICS RETURN END-EXEC.

This would end the transaction without specifying which one should be executed next, so that the operator would regain control. The SEND CONTROL command that precedes the RETURN unlocks the keyboard and clears the screen, so that the operator is ready to enter the next request.

The hexadecimal values that correspond to the various attention keys are defined in a copy book called DFHAID. To use these definitions, you copy DFHAID into your working storage, in the same way that you copy DFHBMSCA to use the predefined attributes byte combinations (see Attribute value definitions: DFHBMSCA ). The contents of the DFHAID copy book are in Attention identifier constants, DFHAID.