Introduction › Features › Application Programming Features

Application Programming Features

Application Programming features include:

Full CICS Support

CA Spool is fully compliant with CICS.

NATURAL Support

NATURAL online and batch reports can be placed in CA Spool files and printed under full CA Spool control. NATURAL Interface allows CA Spool to handle all printing from NATURAL programs using DISPLAY or WRITE statements.

Scratchpad Facility

CA Spool files can be read through the Call Interface, or through the SUBSYS Interface. This allows the programmer to store transient data without JCL having to allocate for an interim data set.

Call Interface

Call Interface is available in batch and online environments; these include: CICS, IMS, TSO, NATURAL, CA Roscoe, CA IDMS, and so on.

No Data Set Allocations Required

Application programs using the Call Interface do not require JCL statements for the CA Spool files.

Call Interface of CA Spool or the SUBSYS Interface Can Be Used for Creation or Retrieval of Spool Files

The SUBSYS interface is a direct interface to CA Spool to write spool files simply by changing DD SYSOUT JCL statements to DD SUBSYS statements. SUBSYS interface allows CA Spool facilities to be used by application programs or standard IBM utilities without modifications.

You can use the SUBSYS interface without changing all DD SYSOUT statements to DD SUBSYS statements. CA Spool can intercept all JES output data set allocations and decide if the allocation must go to JES or to CA Spool based on the destination or output class.

Advanced Communication Interface

Allows installations to develop supervisory programs, tailor user dialogs, and communicate with CA Spool without leaving the teleprocessing monitor.

Batch Job Creation and Execution from an Application Program

Application programs can make use of spool files as interim storage for data to be used later in the same program, or by another online or batch program.