PH57446: CREATING in IDZ A ZUNIT TESTCASE FAILS WITH NullPointerExceptionWHEN THE COBOL PROGRAM CONTAINS A SPECIAL-NAMES+EJECT PARAGRAPH

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• In IBM Developer for z/OS v16, trying to create a ZUnit testcase
  fails with a NullPointerException:
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  
  at
  com.ibm.etools.zunit.ast.util.CobolAstNodeUtil$1.visit(CobolAstN
  odeUtil.java:428)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.SpecialNamesParagra
  ph.enter(SpecialNamesParagraph.java:133)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.SpecialNamesParagra
  ph.accept(SpecialNamesParagraph.java:127)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.ConfigurationSectio
  nParagraphList.enter(ConfigurationSectionParagraphList.java:105)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.ConfigurationSectio
  nParagraphList.accept(ConfigurationSectionParagraphList.java:94)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.ConfigurationSectio
  n.enter(ConfigurationSection.java:137)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.ConfigurationSectio
  n.accept(ConfigurationSection.java:125)
  at
  com.ibm.systemz.cobol.editor.core.parser.Ast.EnvironmentDivision
  .enter(EnvironmentDivision.java:157)
  
  
  Steps to reproduce:
  
  1) Create a local or remote COBOL program like:
  
       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID.           TEST1.
       DATE-WRITTEN.
       DATE-COMPILED.
       ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
       CONFIGURATION SECTION.
       SPECIAL-NAMES.
           EJECT
        DATA DIVISION.
        FILE SECTION.
        WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
  
        LINKAGE SECTION.
        01   ARG1               PIC X(10).
  
           PROCEDURE DIVISION.
  
  2) Right-click on it and select menu ZUnit > Create/modify
  testcase
  
  => NullPointerException is displayed in a popup
  

Local fix

• To add a "." after the EJECT statement:
  
         SPECIAL-NAMES.
             EJECT.
  

Problem summary

• NullPointerException occurs when opening the ZUnit test case
  editor for the program which has EJECT statement in
  SPECIAL-NAMES section.
  

Problem conclusion

• The NullPointerException was caused since ZUnit assumes there is
   a period in the SPECIAL-NAMES section. However, EJECT can be
  used without period in this section. The Null check is added in
  this procedure and it is fixed.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  DEV FOR Z/OS

• Fixed component ID

  5724T0700

Applicable component levels