FIX: You receive an "Illegal variable length table is specified "error message after you try to save a Transaction Integrator object in the TI Designer in Host Integration Server 2004 (894264)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. You try to save a Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 Transaction Integrator (TI) object in the TI Designer. The TI object contains a method that is defined to have a variable length array, and this variable length array depends upon a length specifier that is located after another variable length array. In this scenario, you receive the following error message in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET:
An illegal variable length table is specified in MethodName. Length specifiers occurring after the first variable length table are not supported in this release.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the TI Designer in Host Integration Server 2004 enforces the COBOL rule that a length specifier may not be located after a variable length array.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Host Integration Server 2004 that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
   Date         Time   Version     Size     File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   01-Mar-2005  00:25  6.0.1941.0  377,344  Mgddtcob390.dll
Note Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains these files may also contain additional files.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

The following COBOL data definition illustrates a scenario in which a length specifier is located after a variable length table:
01  INPUT-AREA-DESC.
           05  COUNT-1         PIC S9(4) COMP.
           05  SOME-DATA OCCURS 15 TIMES DEPENDING ON COUNT-1.
               10  DESC1             PIC X(4).
               10  DESC2             PIC S9(5) COMP-3.
           05  COUNT-2         PIC S9(4) COMP.
           05  MORE-DATA OCCURS 25 TIMES DEPENDING ON COUNT-2.
               10  MORE-DESC1        PIC X.
               10  MORE-DESC2        PIC 9(9).
This COBOL data definition will not compile successfully on the mainframe computer. However, you can write a mainframe program to handle this kind of data when the program reads the data that is sent by the TI. Therefore, the strict checking of this condition is removed from the TI Designer when you apply this hotfix.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/25/2006
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbHIS2004 kbpubtypekc KB894264 kbAudDeveloper
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