CICS program testing checklist

This tip is based on "Murach's CICS for the COBOL Programmer." If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, click here.

There's an old saying that if you write a line of code then you will have a bug. Everyone who has ever coded knows the frustrations of programming errors. This tip is a checklist for how to check a CICS program for errors. It provides a comprehensive list of things that must be checked when testing a CICS program.

What to check for on the screen

• Are all the headings and captions placed correctly?
• Are the user instructions displayed properly?
• Is there any garbage on the screen?
• Are all words spelled correctly?
• Is the cursor in the correct initial location?
• Does the cursor move correctly from field to field?

What to check for as you enter valid data

• Are all the program screens displayed in the correct sequence?
• Do all the attention keys work correctly?
• Are the user messages always correct?
• Are the functions of all attention keys indicated?
• Does the program properly acknowledge the receipt of valid data?
• Are work fields properly cleared after each valid transaction?
• Are control totals accumulated properly?
• Are files updated properly?

What to check for as you enter invalid data

• Does each case of invalid data for each field yield an appropriate error message?
• Do look-up routines work properly?
• Is the field in error highlighted?
• Is the cursor positioned at the field in error?
• When you correct the error, do the error message and highlighting go away?
• Does the program post transactions even though errors are detected?
• Does the program detect all possible cross-validation errors?
• Does the program properly detect and highlight multiple entry errors?