In addition to the standard terminal control commands for sending and receiving data, several commands and lists are provided for use with display devices.

The commands are:

• Erase all unprotected fields (SEND CONTROL ERASEAUP)
• Input operation without data (RECEIVE)
• Handle attention identifiers (HANDLE AID)

The lists are:

• Standard attention identifier list (DFHAID)
• Standard attribute and printer control character list (DFHBMSCA)

Erase all unprotected fields (SEND CONTROL ERASEAUP)

The SEND CONTROL ERASEAUP command is used to erase all unprotected character locations on an entire screen, by the following actions:

1. Clearing all unprotected fields to nulls (X'00')
2. Resetting the Modified Data Tags (MDTs) in each unprotected field to zero

Input operation without data (RECEIVE)

The RECEIVE command with no options causes input to take place and the EXEC interface block (EIB) to be updated.
However, data that is received by CICS is not passed on to the application program and is lost.
A wait is implied. Two of the fields in the EIB that are updated are described as follows:

Cursor position (EIBCPOSN)

For every terminal control (or Basic Mapping Support (BMS)) input operation that is associated with a display device, the screen cursor address (position) is placed in the EIBCPOSN field of the EIB. The cursor address is in the form of a 16-bit binary value and remains until updated by a new input operation.

EIBCPOSN is also updated at task initiation for non-ATI tasks.

Attention identifier (EIBAID)

For every terminal control (or BMS) input operation that is associated with a display device, an attention identifier (AID) is placed in the EIBAID field of the EIB.
The AID indicates which method the terminal operator has used to initiate the transfer of information from the device to CICS; for example, the ENTER key, a program function key, and so on.
The field contents remain unchanged until updated by a new input operation.

EIBAID can be tested after each terminal control (or BMS) input operation to determine further processing, and a standard attention identifier list (DFHAID) is provided for this purpose.

Alternatively, for COBOL programs only, the HANDLE AID command can be used to pass control to specified labels when the attention identifiers are received.

EIBAID is also updated at task initiation for non-ATI tasks.