1. OVERVIEW › 1.4 Online Facility Tutorial › 1.4.3 Performance Manager Analysis Inquiries › 1.4.3.5 Executing an Analysis Inquiry › 1.4.3.5.1 Selecting the Execution Mode

1.4.3.5.1 Selecting the Execution Mode

There are two execution modes:  batch and foreground.  In
batch mode, the online facility creates and submits a batch
job that executes the inquiry.  In foreground mode, the
online facility executes the inquiry interactively and lets
you review the results immediately.  To select an execution
mode, type either BATCH (or B) or FOREGROUND (or F) after the
Inquiry Execution Mode prompt.

If you select foreground, the inquiry executes interactively
and gives you the ability to browse your output online, print
it, and save it.  The disadvantage of foreground execution is
that you cannot use your terminal for anything else while an
analysis inquiry is executing.

If you select batch, a batch job is generated and submitted
to execute the inquiry.  You have the option to hold outputs
(that is, color graphics, printed reports, MICSLOG, and SAS
logs) for later online review (and/or printing).  Or you can
let the batch job print reports and logs according to your
sysout specifications.  In either case, MICF can display
color graphics on the hardcopy graphics device you specify.

Some Performance Manager Option inquiries executing in the
foreground environment require that SAS be executed via the
SASCP command rather than by using the CALL command.  These
inquiries create temporary PROC FORMATs in ddname LIBRARY
during their execution.  SASCP searches LIBRARY for temporary
formats if the format is not found in ddname SASLIB.
However, SAS's CALL mode builds a directory of existing
formats within SASLIB files during its start-up processing
and therefore will never find any temporary formats created
afterwards during the inquiry processing.

The CA MICS Administrator specifies the SAS foreground
interface mode along with other SAS Global parameters through
the CA MICS Administrator Facility options. Refer to Section
4.4.2 of the CA MICS Planning, Installation, Operation, and
Maintenance Guide (PIOM) for more information.

Figure 1-26 shows a comparison of the features available in
the batch and foreground execution modes.  The ability to
interactively replay your batch execution output is only
available if you set "Hold inq.  output for Replay" to Y.
Otherwise your batch output goes directly to the specified
sysout class.



 Feature                                   Batch  Foreground
 -----------------------------------------------------------
 Ability to catalog output                  Yes      Yes
 Ability to replay color graphics           Yes      Yes
 Ability to print reports                   Yes      Yes
 Ability to print color graphics            Yes      Yes
 Terminal available for use during
     inquiry execution                      Yes      No
 -----------------------------------------------------------


 Figure 1-26.  Comparison of Batch and Foreground Execution