SUMMARY:   This course is designed to introduce students to application development. It is also suitable for application analysts, integration architects and others with a need to know how WebSphere MQ works. No previous MQ knowledge is assumed. The course is currently available on Windows NT/2000 or OS390/zOS using COBOL or C/C++, in any combination. Other platforms and languages can be accommodated if commercially viable. PREREQUISITES:   General knowledge of one or more IT application environments DURATION:   5 days APPROACH:   This class is taught by lecture with hands-on workshops and class discussions. OBJECTIVES:   Prepare and run WebSphere MQ programs on the chosen platform Establish connections to WebSphere MQ queue managers Open predefined and dynamic queues Pass data between WebSphere MQ programs using queues Pass reply messages and correlate them with request messages Use selection criteria for picking messages from a queue in a specific order Mark and manage WebSphere MQ units of work (syncpoints) State the requirements for automating conversion between differing data encoding methods when messages flow between different platforms Debug WebSphere MQ programs Navigate the WebSphere MQ SupportPacs and documentation The participant demonstrates achievement of these goals by successfully completing fifteen hands-on coding exercises. COURSE CONTENT:   WebSphere MQ's place in the world Messaging compared with other program-program communication methods Basic MQ Concepts Queues and Queue Managers One-way and two-way flows Distributed queuing MQ clients Clusters and shared queues How WebSphere MQ works Message types Queue types Message persistence Message prioritization Syncpoints Triggering WebSphere MQ program design considerations To use a synchronous or an asynchronous application model? To put an expiry time on messages? How to handle "missing" replies? How to handle undeliverable data? The integrity issue WebSphere MQ program environment Program structure and preparation WebSphere MQ built-in structures WebSphere MQ with CICS Sources of information WebSphere MQ API calls Connection & disconnection Opening and closing Putting to a queue Browsing a queue Getting from a queue The message ID and correlator ID Setting and finding message characteristics Persistence Priority Report options Reply messages Using WAITs for decoupling client and server apps WebSphere MQ syncpointing Concepts of triggers and trigger monitors Handling and analyzing return codes Advanced topics MQ INQUIRE and SET calls Data conversion issues Security and accounting issues Optional extra for mainframe users (time permitting) Running WebSphere MQ programs as CICS transactions PL/2B