Selecting
MICS
Files to Analyze

The first step in the creation of a structured inquiry is to select the
MICS
file or files to analyze.
micsrm140
As part of this step, specify the timespan, cycles, and database to be used in the analysis. When it executes this step, MICF creates an intermediate file. This intermediate file is the input file that is used by later data manipulation and reporting steps.
To select a file, specify option 1,
MICS
File Selection, on the Structured Inquiry menu.
MICS
File Selection Panel for Structured Inquiries displays.
MICS
File Selection Panel for Structured Inquiries
----------------------------
MICS
File Selection ---------------------------- Command ===> Scroll ===> CSR Enter a ? in any data entry field for more information on valid values. Composing
MICS
Inquiry: SI1 - Sample Structured Inquiry Inquiry Step ===>
MICS
File Selection
MICS
File ===> (fff) Timespan ===> ______ Cycle(s) ===> __ - __ Database ===> _ Output File ===> FILE1 Title ===> Intermediate File Number 1 Allow Run-Time Override of Database ===> N (Y/N) and/or Cycle(s) ===> N (Y/N) -Database - Info.
MICS
Information Area ===> ___ (iii) Timespans Cmd ID Label Area File X D W M Y A - -- -------- --- --- ------------------------------------- - - - - - - _ ADM ADMINISTRATIVE _ BAT BATCH ACTIVITY _ CIC CICS _ HAR HARDWARE ACTIVITY _ OPS OPERATIONS INFORMATION _ SCP MVS SCP ACTIVITY _ TSO TSO ACTIVITY ****************************** BOTTOM OF DATA *********************************
This panel is nearly identical to the
MICS
File Selection panel that appears when you use question-mark help on a Direct Inquiry definition panel. The difference is that three fields,
MICS
File Cycles, Output File, and Output File Title, have been added. Also, the prompts have been added to allow you to specify that the database and file cycles can be overridden when the inquiry is executed.
When you allow execution-time overrides, you do not need to specify the database or cycles on the file selection panel. Instead, MICF prompts you for this information about the Execution-Time Parameter Specification panel that is displayed before the inquiry is executed.
The
MICS
File Selection panel is in two parts:
  • Specifications are entered in the upper half of the panel.
  • The lower half of the panel is a scrollable display that aids you in the specification of
    MICS
    file, timespan, and database.
When this function is first selected, the scrollable display provides a list of the Information Areas available in your
MICS Complex
.

The Scrollable Display

The
MICS
File Selection scrollable display helps you select the proper
MICS
file, timespan, and database to meet your inquiry requirements. The contents of this display vary depending on the values that are currently specified for
MICS
file, timespan, and database.
When
MICS
file, timespan, and database are all blank (for example, when the panel is displayed for the first time), the scrollable display lists the Information Areas available in your
MICS Complex
. You can select an information area by coding an S (for Select) in the line command field on the line of the display containing the desired information area. Alternatively, you can enter the three-character Information Area identifier in the Information Area data entry field (in the title area of the scrollable display).
When an Information Area is selected, the display lists the
MICS
files in the specified Information Area. This listing includes the valid timespans for each file to the right of the file title or long name. If a column contains a period (.), then the file is not active in the corresponding timespan. Otherwise the column contains X, D, W, M, Y, or A to indicate that the file is active in the Detail, Days, Weeks, Months, or Years timespan or in an application database. You can select a
MICS
file by coding an S (for Select) in the line command field on the line of the display corresponding to the desired file.
When a
MICS
file is selected, the display lists the unit databases containing that
MICS
file. You can select a unit database by coding an S (for Select) in the line command field on the line of the display corresponding to the desired unit database.
Numerous alternative selection scenarios are available. Simply enter a question mark (?) in the field for which you would like to see the valid values. For example, if file and Information Area are blank, you can enter a question mark after Database to list the unit databases in your
MICS Complex
. When you select the desired unit database, a list of the Information Areas that are defined in that unit database is displayed.

Completing the
MICS
File Selection Panel

The following fields must be completed on this panel:
Inquiry Step
Inquiry Step defaults to "
MICS
File Selection," the description that is displayed on the step selection panel. This field is included for your convenience. You can specify a more meaningful label for the inquiry step, which can be up to 60 characters in length.
MICS
File
MICS
File is a three-character
MICS
file name. It is the name of the
MICS database
file from which the inquiry is to extract data.
Timespan
After the Timespan prompt, enter the timespan from which the inquiry is to extract data from the specified
MICS
file. Code a question mark (?) for a list of the valid timespans for the specified
MICS
file. If the
MICS
file exists in only one timespan, then MICF automatically sets the timespan specification. Timespan can take the values DETAIL, DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS, or APPL. These values can be abbreviated as X or DE, D, M, Y, or A, respectively.
Cycles
Cycles must be entered after the Cycles prompt unless execution-time override is allowed. This field defaults to 01 if timespan is DETAIL, DAYS, or APPL. It defaults to 00 if timespan is WEEKS, MONTHS, or YEARS. This field is the cycle or cycles of the specified
MICS
file and timespan from which the inquiry is to extract data. Two data entry fields are provided so that a range of cycles can be specified. Both fields can contain any numeric value from 0 through 99. If only a single cycle (for example, cycle 01) is desired, specify the selected cycle in the first entry field and leave the second field blank. Leading zeros are not required; MICF automatically inserts leading zeros if a single digit number is supplied. For example, 7 becomes 07. You can specify cycle ranges in either ascending or descending order (for example, 01 - 05 or 05 - 01). The files are processed in the order that you specify. The descending order (for example, 03 - 01) is frequently more efficient than ascending order because less sorting is required.
Database
Database must be entered unless you have selected execution-time override for the database. Enter the one-character database ID for the unit database in which the
MICS
file that you need exists. If the
MICS
file exists in only one unit database, then MICF sets this parameter automatically.
Output File
The entry that you make after the Output File prompt is the name of the intermediate file that is created by this inquiry step. It is specified as the input file for subsequent data manipulation and reporting steps. If this file is to be saved for input to later inquiries, then this is the actual name under which the file is cataloged. The value defaults to FILEn, where n is the next intermediate file number. For example, FILE1 for the first intermediate file, FILE2 for the second. The name must be 1 through 8 characters and must NOT begin with an underscore (_). Because MICF adds its own prefix to your file names, you do not need to ensure that file names are distinct from other
MICS
file names. If you leave this field blank, MICF prompts you to complete it before you leave the panel.
Allow Runtime Override
Two fields are provided for specifying whether the database and file cycles specification can be overridden when the inquiry is executed. Both fields default to N (No). Specify N (No) to lock this step to the specified database or cycles. Specify Y (Yes) to allow the database or cycles to be changed at inquiry execution. The two fields are independent. In other words, you can allow database override without allowing cycles override. For example, specify Y for database override and N for cycles override. If a database override is N, then database must be specified. If a database override is Y, then database may be blank. If the cycles override is N, then at least one cycle must be specified. If the cycles override is Y, then cycles may be blank.
Title
The title for the intermediate file is optional. It defaults to "Intermediate File Number n," where n is the file name suffix. This title is the intermediate file title or "long name" displayed on various inquiry composition panels and the saved file catalog. This field is included for your convenience to provide a more meaningful label for the
MICS
file. This field can be 1 to 30 characters long.