I've read of GUI interfaces that can be created as a front-end for CICS, does anyone know anything about this? If so could you tell me what I need and point me in the right direction to making this happen. I am working on a university mainframe using MVS/JCL and working with COBOL85 and CICS. I think there's even a way to use Visual Basic. If anyone knows anything about this please let me know. Thank-you!

Not sure if this will help but...

Your GUI options are limited because CICS is a text based interface. However, pop up windows / drop down boxes can be simulated. Software AG's Natural (4GL) supports this nicely. Natural runs under CICS so I assume you could code your own drop downs in native CICS - haven't tried it though.

Let me know what you find out.

IBM also has developed Enterprise JAVA Beans that will call CICS. These allow teh GUI to be JAVA, execute the BEAN and pass the required parameters to the bean for the call.

(I have use the word call for clearity, I have not used the beans yet so I am not exactly sure if it is a true call or not)

If you were to use (OLE) ActiveX automation, such as that provided by IBM 3270 emulators (e.g. Eicon Aviva), you may exchange data both-ways between the emulator package and a Visual Basic application.
A) Get to see a copy of Eicon Aviva,
B) Check the Help file Index under "OLE"
C)Read On, McDuff!

I just attended aN IBM roadshow for S390 and one of the topics covered was Web Enabling CICS.
The Transaction Gateway that is a current module with CICS allows you to reassemble BMS maps to generate HTML pages.
You need to do NO recoding of the CORE CICS application!
This was very cool. After reassembling th4e maps you can clean up the HTML form and generate a very effiecent GUI.

Do a search on WWW.IBM.COM for the gateway for more information. Also go to the s390 Roadshow pages and look for the speakers notes.

 Very slick stuff
            Greg

Greg Amos
amosgreg@ix(dot)netcom(dot)com replace(dot)