   A S K C A T   -  Platform: MVS routine


   A routine to query a ICF Catalog for a entry.


   In this distribution file (ASKCAT.ZIP) there is:

ASKCAT.OBJ              executable for MVS mainframe, in obj form
ASKCAT.HIL              Hilmas source of this file
README.TXT              this help file 
LINKEDIT.JCL            job example to install ASKCAT
MAN_ENG.TXT             manual in English
MAN_ITA.TXT             manual in Italian
TESTASK.OBJ             Demo of use of ASKCAT in assembler
TESTASK.HIL             Source Hilmas of demo



OBJ installation:

- Create in MVS a sequential file, for example 'MYUSER.PROGRAM.OBJ'
  with RECFM=FB and LRECL=80, for example of 1 cylinder.

- SEND obj module from PC to MVS in this file in BINARY form, with your 
  3270 emulation; the most important thing is a binary transfer (therefore 
  without ASCII CRLF) in a file with record length of 80 bytes.
  Use this PC command (in a PC with IBM/PCOMM 4.1 3270 emulation installed):

     SEND ASKCAT.OBJ 'MYUSER.PROGRAM.OBJ'

- Prepare a Job to Linkedit transferred obj in a load library;
  use LINKEDIT.JCL as example: fit this JCL to your needs
  changing library names

- Submit linkedit job to create load module; output library must be a
  load library used in your compilation job.

- Recall this routine in your Cobol program as explained in manual;
  then linkedit your program with this routine, verifying that 
  this load library is included in your compilation procedure.


Program instruction:

    See the manual for examples in COBOL of the use of this routine.
Here we want explain the demo in Hilmas enclosed in distribution;
TestAsk is a very simple program that display use of ASKCAT and ASKVTOC
from an assembler program. See source TESTASK.HIL.

    To install executable (OBJ) of this demo you must do the same things 
you have done for ASKCAT; pay attention that the linkedit library SYSLIB
(in the linkedit job) must already contains routines ASKCAT and ASKVTOC
that must both be linked together with TESTASK. In others words, to
install TestAsk you must have installed ASKVTOC, too.

    To run demo TESTASK in your ISPF/TSO session write:
       TSO TESTASK         (if library of this executable is in linklist)
or, from =3.4 menu option, enter 'M' of the load library containing
TestAsk and, left to executable, write CALL <Enter>.

    TestAsk show an interactive screen similar to this:


       --- TEST OF "ASKCAT" AND "ASKVTOC" ROUTINES. ---             
                                                                    
       1 - TEST "ASKCAT"  TO QUERY IF A FILE IS CATALOGED.          
       2 - TEST "ASKVTOC" TO QUERY IF THERE IS A FILE ON A DISK.    
                                                                    
       CHOOSE BETWEEN 1 AND 2:                                      
     1                                                              
                                                                    
       WRITE FILE NAME:                                             
     BANEAEV.AEUV0170.WESAPIPR                                      
                                                                    
      RC     =   0                                                  
      DSNAME = BANEAEV.AEUV0170.WESAPIPR                            
      LRECL  =  2000                                                
      KEYLEN =  12                                                  
      RKP    =  80                                                  
      ***                                                           
                                                               
