What is the difference between an EXEC CICS LINK and an EXEC CICS XCTL command in CICS programming?

Difference Between EXEC CICS LINK and EXEC CICS XCTL Command in CICS Programming

When it comes to CICS programming, understanding the difference between the EXEC CICS LINK and EXEC CICS XCTL commands is crucial.

Focus Keyword: CICS Programming

The EXEC CICS LINK command is used to call a program along with transferring control to it. This means that the called program is an independent task and operates separately from the calling program. Any changes made in the called program do not affect the calling program.

On the other hand, the EXEC CICS XCTL command transfers control from the current program to the target program, replacing the current program with the target program. This means that the target program takes over the resources and shared areas of the current program. Any changes made in the target program directly reflect in the calling program after it regains control.

Therefore, the key difference lies in how control and data are managed between the calling and target programs in CICS programming.