Basic mapping support (BMS) is an interface between CICS and application programs. Input and output data is formatted in response to BMS commands in the application programs. To do this, BMS uses device information from CICS system tables and formatting information from maps that have been prepared for the application program. A single BMS command in an application program can address more than one kind of device, since the terminal information is retrieved by BMS from a systems table. Since formatting information is stored separately, writing applications is simpler and less susceptible to changes in the system or peripheral devices. To learn more about the use of BMS mapping in an application program, refer to your IBM CICS system manuals.