MLI is compatible with z/OS CICS/TS 3.1(and above).
Are you still supporting old CICS releases just to keep your macro level applications running?

Stop spending valuable time and money keeping up your old CICS release. With Macro Level Interpreter, you can run your macro level applications on your current command level CICS with NO programming changes.

Macro Level Interpreter standard features:

• No migration necessary - save costly programming hours

• Automatically translates your macro level applications to command level without the need for the original source code

• Eliminates the need for maintaining multiple versions and unsupported versions of CICS

• Supports Assembler, COBOL and PL/1 languages

• Supports command level applications using the restricted 'EXEC CICS ADDRESS CSA' command in CICS/ESA version 3 or above

• Supports vendor applications written with CICS macro code, such as LIFE70™, PMS™, CICS/DMS™ V1.4 or prior, TAPS™, KEYMASTER™ and 4GL™

• Compatible with all versions of CICS Transaction Server (including VSE)

Macro Level Interpreter optional features:

• Optional 31-bit feature allows applications whether MACRO or COMMAND level to execute above the 16 megabyte line (some customers use MLI strictly for this feature).

• Optional macro feature, MLIMAC, allows users to totally eliminate the need for CICS 2.1.2 software by providing compile libraries for Assembler, COBOL and PL/1 languages.

• Macro Level Detector optional feature - Macro Level Detector audits your applications and determines exactly which programs must be translated by MLI.
  

MLI Frequently Asked Questions

1. With MLI do you have to make any application modifications or changes?
2. Does MLI support the CICS/ESA storage protect feature?
3. Does MLI support Dynamic Attach?
4. What is the Stub size?
5. Does MLI support mixed mode programs?
6. Does MLI support all standard DFH calls?
7. How does MLI stand up to high volume usage and does MLI create CPU overhead?
8. Does MLI support ISAM compatibility or unblocked files under CICS/ESA?
9. Does MLI co-exist with debugging tools?

1. With MLI do you have to make any application modifications or changes?
No. MLI installs as an application to CICS and intercepts macro calls and ADDRESS command calls (including ADDRESS CSA) automatically at program run time.  No modification to program source or load module is required.

FAQ

2. Does MLI support the CICS/ESA storage protect feature?
Yes. MLI fully supports Storage Protection in CICS/ESA 3.3 and above with no CPU overhead!

FAQ

3. Does MLI support Dynamic Attach?
Yes. Whether referring to DFHKC TYPE=ATTACH or to the Dynamic Attachment of the STUB for macro level programs, their answer is yes. The stub attachment mechanism automatically recognizes mixed mode programs and pure command level programs to avoid double stub conditions and attaches a stub only to macro level programs.

FAQ

4. What is the Stub size?
MLI stubs are necessary only for pure macro level programs and are 40 bytes for assembler programs and 72 bytes for COBOL programs. For PL/1 programs, the existing CICS stub is reused.

FAQ

5. Does MLI support mixed mode programs?
Yes. MLI supports programs that have a mixture of macro and command level code.

FAQ

6. Does MLI support all standard DFH calls?
Yes. The keyword is standard. DFHWTO, DFHOC, etc... system calls are supported as well as most CTYPE LOCATE and BROWSE calls.

FAQ

7. How does MLI stand up to high volume usage and does MLI create CPU overhead?
MLI has a number of performance options that can be customized by the user. One option is the DIRECT LINK feature which can improve performance to the point where CPU consumption will be less with MLI and CICS/ESA than it was without MLI and CICS 2.1.2!

FAQ

8.Does MLI support ISAM compatibility or unblocked files under CICS/ESA?
Yes. With CICS/ESA 4.1 unblocked files are no longer supported. However, MLI provides a user friendly menu where the user can code the DDNAME of files that need to be defined as unblocked. This process is automated under 2.1.2 and 3.3 CICS regions using RDM.

FAQ

9. Does MLI co-exist with debugging tools?
Yes. MLI fully supports XPEDITER from Compuware and INTERTEST from CA.

FAQ

Macro Level Detector (MLD) helps you to clearly understand the extent of the CICS macro level code in your applications. The simple installation and operation of Macro Level Detector provides detailed analysis of specified CICS application code to remove the guesswork from CICS macro level to command level conversions. Call MacKinney Systems to receive more information about receiving a trial of Macro Level Detector.

Register or login to download a free 30 day trial of Macro Level Interpreter.