Generated COBOL Data-Names Not Accessible in COBOL Program (178329)

SYMPTOMS

COBOL generated by Component Builder (CB) may include data-names that can not be used in COBOL program logic. In the following code snippet the data- name, DIM3, occurs in two places, preceded by FILLER -- once in the ~INPUT- AREA and once in the ~OUTPUT-AREA. Because of the presence of the FILLER, COBOL code cannot refer to the DIM3 variables.

01  INCLUDEACTSIZE-INPUT-AREA.
    05  ARRRSET5-6-7-DIM0                PIC 9(9) COMP.
    05  ARRRSET5-6-7-DIM1                PIC 9(9) COMP.
    05  ARRRSET5-6-7-DIM2                PIC 9(9) COMP.
    05  FILLER OCCURS 5 TIMES.
        10  FILLER OCCURS 6 TIMES.
            15  FILLER OCCURS 7 TIMES.
                20  DIM3                 PIC 9(9) COMP.
                20  ARRRSET5-6-7 OCCURS 50 TIMES.
                    25  MEMBER1          PIC S9(4) COMP.
                    25  MEMBER2          PIC X(40).
01  INCLUDEACTSIZE-OUTPUT-AREA.
    05  RETVAL                           PIC S9(4) COMP.
    05  ARRRSET5-6-7-DIM0                PIC 9(9) COMP.
    05  ARRRSET5-6-7-DIM1                PIC 9(9) COMP.
    05  ARRRSET5-6-7-DIM2                PIC 9(9) COMP.
    05  FILLER OCCURS 5 TIMES.
        10  FILLER OCCURS 6 TIMES.
            15  FILLER OCCURS 7 TIMES.
                20  DIM3                 PIC 9(9) COMP.
                20  ARRRSET5-6-7 OCCURS 50 TIMES.
                    25  MEMBER1          PIC S9(4) COMP.
                    25  MEMBER2          PIC X(40).

CAUSE

This problem can occur when using an IMS Remote Environment (RE) and a CICS RE, but not when using a CICS LINK RE. Three additional things occur together to cause the problem.

First, a recordset is declared and used for a parameter. The direction for the parameter is specified as "Input and Output." That is why the ~INPUT- AREA and the ~OUTPUT-AREA are both generated per the code snippet above.

Second, the parameter is declared as an array. In our example, the parameter was declared as a multidimensional array with dimensions (5, 6, 7). The three FILLER items preceding the DIM3 variable are generated to dimension the array in COBOL.

Third, the array properties of the parameter are set to "Include actual size." That is why the three variables, ~DIM0, ~DIM1, and ~DIM2 are generated. This array property also causes the DIM3 variables to be generated. DIM0, DIM1, and DIM2 contain the actual count of each dimension of the array. DIM3 contains the actual number of rows in the recordset.

In this example, the recordset property of the parameter was set to 50 for "Group-Item Maximum Occurrences." That is why "ARRRSET5-6-7 OCCURS 50 TIMES" was generated.

WORKAROUND

After the COBOL is generated, it must be manually changed to replace the FILLER statements with a usable COBOL data-name. Thereafter, it can be included in a COBOL program and the two DIM3 variables can be individually referenced to assign the row count for output or reference it for input.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SNA Server 4.0. A supported fix is now available for SNA Server 4.0, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Product Support Services for more information.