Information management system (CIM) is an information system of the company IBM. It is today still when banks and insurance far common, above all the transaction monitor (IMS/DC), which offers also interfaces via MQSeries, TCP/IP and Java.

History

CIM in the years 1966 to 1968 (still under the name ICS - information control system) by IBM, North American Rockwell and Caterpillar Tractors was developed. On 14 August 1968 this first version ran with Rockwell space division in Downey, California. CIM one developed for the Apollo missions. In the year 1969 ICS renamed in CIM (information management system) and developed further from IBM to today constantly.

Structure and feature

The data access from application programs takes place by means of DL/I (DATA Language/I). This programming interface is supported by the programming languages assembler, C++, C, COBOL, FORTRAN and PL/I.

Contains of CIM extensive mechanisms for the grant of the data integrity (Locking, LOGGING).

CIM consists of the components IMS/DB (hierarchical data base system) and IMS/DC (CIM TM). IMS/DB provides here for the access to data bases, while IMS/DC a transaction manager represents to develop it permitted under CIM interactive programs which with the user over a 3270-Terminal communicates. Here the same programming interface is used, as under IMS/DB, whereby communication with the user is made system internal by a Message in such a way specified queue.

Application programs

Under CIM exist the following kinds of application programs:

Applications, which access in the pure batch operating IMS data bases. The data bases processed by these applications are to on-line operation during the time of the program execution at the disposal only if for this DLI application DBRC and IRLM is activated. Without DBRC and without IRLM applies: If these data bases should be available on-line during the daily, then such a processing can take place only after IMS/DC was terminated.

Here it concerns programs, which are started from a job, but in a the position are to implement accesses to data bases within on-line operation. These programs are to be accessed able the Messagequeue.

Here it concerns applications of on-line, which are started by a user at the 3270-Terminal. The user fills out first for this an input mask. After operation of the enter key a message is produced to the appropriate program and inserted in the Messagequeue. IMS/DC starts thereupon the program and sets the appropriate Message for the program. MPPs are able, several Messages, which were produced by different users to process. Therefore such programs are to be programmed in such a way that between the interactive steps no meeting-referred data in the program are stored.

There is the possibility, MPP programs over a middleware, like e.g. To call CIM Connect. Communication is made here by the Messagequeue completed, so that application does not notice a difference whether the message was produced by a terminal or a middleware. The advantage of this procedure exists in the integration of so-called Legacy applications in applications of Web, without application must be adapted for this.

Access to IMS data bases

For the access to IMS data bases from applications of PCs different solutions exist. Thus e.g. exists the product of CIM Connect, which it makes a message for an application of PCs possible to a IMS transaction to send. The IMS transaction processes then this message without knowledge that this by an application of PCs was produced. The result of this processing is then sent back again as message to the application of PCs.

A further solution exists also in the employment of the product Shadow Direct. This solution makes the development possible RPCs so mentioned, which is started on the host under control of Shadow Direct. This RPCs can access among other things IMS volume of data. As result a relational table can be produced, which is sent over an ODBC interface to the application of PCs.

Since version 7 supports CIM JDBC and makes possible for Java programs, which are cut to relational data bases, the access to hierarchical data bases.

Related links

• The official IMS Site with IBM
• CIM Society

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