SPERRY<-UNIVAC
SERIES 90 - OS/3
-) PROG RAM Information Management System
PRODUCT (Single Thread)
SPECIFICATION
Type Number: 6217-00
SECTION 1
The Sperry Univac Information Management System (IMS) Single Thread is an interactive,
transaction processing system with integrated file management facilities. It allows a user
to create an on-line transaction processing environment with little or no programming
effort. Additional application programs can be developed as needed for more specific
requirements. Further data access facilities are provided by a sophisticated defined record
management capability and an interface to data contained in a DMS data base.
IMS supplies an inquiry/update language (UNIQUE) for general purpose file processing.
UNIQUE is an easy-to-use language which requires no programming effort. User-written
action programs written in COBOL, Report Program Generator (RPGII) or Basic Assembly
Language (BAL) are also supported.
Startup/Shutdown procedures and restart/recovery support are also provided. A
comprehensive audit trail capability, together with recovery utilities, is made available to
“ facilitate restart/recovery. Automatic rollback of files occurs when a transaction is abnormally
terminated or cancelled.
PRODUCT FEATURES
TRANSACTION ENVIRONMENT
IMS supports an interactive transaction environment.
An input message causes the scheduling of an action program to carry out the processing of
that input and generate an output message. An action program may also be scheduled by being
designated as an immediate successor or subprogram to another action program. Some action
programs are supplied as a standard part of IMS. For example, UNIQUE is implemented as a
series of action programs.
Programs may be written in Assembly, COBOL, or RPGII and may be either reentrant or serially
reusable. The I/O areas or other main storage areas required by an action program are
dynamically allocated from the IMS main storage pool. When IMS calls the action program, it
establishes linkage to the dynamically allocated areas. Frequently used action programs or
subprograms may be declared resident in main storage.
IMS provides several levels of editing for action program messages including simple or
oO expanded editing of input messages and sophisticated screen formatting for input and
output messages.
A test facility is also provided whereby an action program can request a print of its program and
storage areas.
DATA MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
IMS provides support for conventional, already existing files; defined files; and DMS data
bases. Action programs can process data files through IMS in a manner similar to standard data
management. They can also process defined files which are dynamically composed of one or
more files by the defined record management component of IMS. A defined record can come
from a single record or from a group of records. In either case, the defined record need not
contain all the items which comprise its source. A defined record can, thus, be composed of
parts which come from different sources or files. The source for a defined file may also be a
DMS data base. The technique of describing a defined file is very similar to that of compiling a
COBOL program. Data definition specifications are processed by the data definition processor.
The result is a data definition record which is used by IMS tocontrol the construction of defined
records from logical records. Thus, IMS can tailor different views of the same data depending
on the needs of the application.
The data definition process also provides security and integrity through an optional password
capability and by allowing users to specify whether or not defined files can be altered. Items can
also be identified as modifiable and valid value ranges can be established.
IMS can also access DMS data bases by: writing COBOL action programs with embedded DMS
data manipulation action statements; writing COBOL or BAL action programs which use
Defined Record Management; or using the UNIQUE inquiry/update language. The data base
can be used in its original form or it can be passed through defined record management,
thereby providing all of the item level validity testing and control that is available to users of
conventional files.
IMS provides a logical record capability used to protect records that are in the process of being
updated from concurrent updating by other transactions. If a transaction abnormally
terminates prior to completion, IMS automatically rolls back user data file changes initiated by
that transaction. Action Programs may also explicitly request rollback.
A resident file facility allows frequently accessed files to remain resident for maximum
performance.
WORKSTATION/TERMINAL SUPPORT
IMS receives input from any interactive workstation or terminal. Terminals can be dedicated to
IMS or can dynamically attach/detach during an online session.
A powerful set of commands are available which assist with the administrative, operational
and educational aspects of IMS.
There are two sets of commands: General Commands and Master Commands. The general
commands are available to every IMS Terminal and affect the processing at that device only.
Master commands may be employed only by the designated master terminal and control the
total IMS environment. These are used to change the status of programs, files and terminals;
and to request termination of online processing.
A terminal-to-terminal communications command, is also provided. This allows a terminal to
send a message to any other IMS terminal. Messages can also be switched from an action
program. A switched message can never destroy the destination terminal's screen since IMS
provides a protocol in which the destination terminal is told of any messages sent to it and must
specifically request them. A command is also provided to down-line load a programmable
terminal.
To aid in the implementation of print transactions, the continuous output feature is available.
This feature provides a recovery capability by returning status information about each output. It
also assures that large volume print transactions do not degrade the response time of
interactive transactions.
Printing can be directed to the terminal that originates the print transaction or to an
attached auxiliary device. The printing can also be initiated at a different terminal, which
can be an unattended or output-only interactive device.
A communications terminal can be disconnected from IMS 90 following the delivery of an
action program's output message. This is available for single-station dial-in lines and allows
another terminal to dial-in on the same line.
UNIQUE
The inquiry/update language known as UNIQUE (Uniform Inquiry and Update Element)
provides access to defined files without user programming. The UNIQUE language consists of
easy-to-use commands which allow a terminal operator to display and update defined records.
It is designed for ease-of-use and offers the following commands:
OPEN: Signifies the beginning of the UNIQUE dialog and makes the specified file
available to the authorized user. Access rights are verified before the file is made
available.
CLOSE: Signifies the termination of the UNIQUE dialog.
DISPLAY: Causes the display of the specified record.
DELETE: Provides the ability to delete a record after viewing the information in the record.
OK: Indicates a desire to complete the function associated with the previous
command. Used with DELETE, ADD, or CHANGE commands.
CANCEL: Requests UNIQUE to cancel the previous update (DELETE, ADD, CHANGE)
command. The file remains as it was before the updating command.
ADD: Initiates a dialog by which a record can be added to the file. There are two styles
for this command: the video-display style and the hard-copy style. The video-
display style uses a ‘‘fill-in-the-blanks’’ approach, whereas the hard-copy style
requires the identification of each affected item by the operator.
NEXT: Selects the next identifier from the most recent DISPLAY, DELETE, ADD, or
CHANGE command. The function performed on the identified record is
determined by the previous command.
CHANGE: Initiates a dialog by which a record can be changed.
LIST: Selects certain records or parts of records for listing at the terminal, based on the
text of the command.
DETAIL: Interrupts the processing of the previous LIST command to request the
processing of a higher priority LIST. After the response to the DETAIL is
completed, the previous LIST function can be resumed without reentering the
LIST command.
MORE: Requests the next screen of data associated with the last LIST or DETAIL
command.
SHOW: Provides a capsule data description of the defined file that is being accessed.
UNIQUE, by using Defined Record Management, assures that security and integrity are
provided for data files.
BATCH PROCESSING
IMS also supports the processing of transactions in batch mode where input is received from a
file and output is directed to the system printer. Batched transactions may be processed online
(concurrent with a terminal network) or offline (no terminal network active).
The batch transaction processor is especially useful for testing or updating and displaying files
at the end of a day’s production.
OFF-LINE RECOVERY
The off-line recovery utility provides three recovery capabilities: forward recovery, backward
recovery (file rollback), and quick recovery.
Forward recovery is used when any portion of a data file is destroyed. After-images previously
written to a trace file are applied to security dump files.
Backward recovery may be used when data files are accessible but invalid. Before-images
recorded on the IMS trace file are applied to a complete file rollback or to a specified date
and time.
Quick recovery may be desirable in the case of system failure. The quick recovery rolls back all
transactions that were active at the time of failure.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
IMS requires the following OS/3 software products for operation:
SCS - OS/3 System Control Software
- ESS - OS/3 Extended System Software
- RPG Il, COBOL or Assembly, if Action Programs are desired.
- DMS, if access to data base facilities is desired.
- ICAM Terminal support facility, if required.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
IMS will operate on any 90/25, 30 or 40 model and configuration that meets the minimal
hardware configuration requirement for that specific model and satisfies the main storage
requirements specified in the software release documentation accompanying each release.
Additional main storage and/or peripheral devices may be required, depending on the
user's selection of the system’s supported features and the size of the user’s programs,
files and data bases.
SECTION Ii
CUSTOMER EDUCATION
Sperry Univac makes available customer education related to this program product. Course
availability and schedules are contained in the published course catalog. Charges for courses
will be at the then prevailing rates. Customers should contact their local Sperry Univac
representatives for enrollment procedures.
PROGRAM PRODUCT SUPPORT
Sperry Univac will endeavor to correct any significant error in an unaltered current release of
the Program Product, which the customer brings to the attention of Sperry Univac in
accordance with established correction procedures. Sperry Univac does not represent or
warrant that all errors will be corrected. This error correction service may result from time to
time in update releases which the customer will install. Sperry Univac reserves the right to alter
the classification of this Program Product to reflect changes in policy or support requirements.
ORDERING INFORMATION
This Program Product and its associated documentation may be leased from Sperry Univac at
separately stated lease charges. Upon execution of a Supplement for Program Products (Form
UD1-1306) or its equivalent for this Program Product, the following will be provided:
1. A magnetic tape, diskette(s) or removable disk media in OS/3 Operating System
format containing:
- IMS
- Installation Verification Program
2. One copy of the associated documentation:
- Software Release Documentation
IMS Terminal Command Summary, UP-8741
IMS System Support Functions User Guide and Programmer Reference, UP-8364
- IMS Applications User Guide and Programmer Reference, UP-8614
U6999 Rev. 1 6 Printed in U.S.A.
