PI68273: COBOL V5+ PERFORMS SIGN FIXUP ON MOVE OF VARIABLE LENGTH REFERENCE MODIFIED SOURCE TO A DISPLAY NUMERIC TARGET

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• For moves from a variable length reference modified source to a
  display numeric target, COBOL v5+ performs sign fixup, which is
  inconsistent with the behavior of earlier compiler versions.
  
  This does not affect a move where the source is reference
  modified with a constant length, or the source is not reference
  modified. In these cases sign fixup is done depending on the
  NUMPROC() setting.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL 6.1 compiling and  *
  *                 running programs containing a MOVE           *
  *                 statement that moves a varying length        *
  *                 reference modified alphanumeric item         *
  *                 containing invalid zoned decimal data to a   *
  *                 display numeric item.                        *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Incorrect output: After the MOVE        *
  *                      statement is performed, the value of    *
  *                      the sign nibble in the receiver may     *
  *                      not match the sign nibble in the        *
  *                      sender because the sign nibble  in the  *
  *                      receiver will be unconditionally set    *
  *                      to X'F'. This behavior differs from     *
  *                      pre-V5.1 versions of the compiler       *
  *                      where the user data in the sign         *
  *                      nibble, even if it is invalid, is       *
  *                      preserved during the move.              *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the provided PTF.                      *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  For these types of move operations, the compiler was generating
  code to unconditionally set the sign nibble to X'F' in the
  receiver.
  

Problem conclusion

• The compiler was changed to avoid changing the sign nibble in
  the receiver during these types of move operations. This makes
  the behavior compatible with COBOL V4 and earlier compilers.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

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

  PI67666

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

  UI40709 UI40710 UI40711

Modules/Macros

•    IGYCCBE  IGYCCICS IGYCCSRV IGYCDGEN IGYCDIAG
  IGYCDMAP IGYCEN$D IGYCEN$R IGYCEN$0 IGYCEN$1 IGYCEN$2 IGYCEN$3
  IGYCEN$4 IGYCEN$5 IGYCEN$8 IGYCFGEN IGYCFREE IGYCINIT IGYCJA$D
  IGYCJA$R IGYCJA$0 IGYCJA$1 IGYCJA$2 IGYCJA$3 IGYCJA$4 IGYCJA$5
  IGYCJA$8 IGYCLIBH IGYCLIBO IGYCLIBR IGYCLSTR IGYCLVL0 IGYCLVL1
  IGYCLVL2 IGYCLVL3 IGYCLVL8 IGYCMALL IGYCOSCN IGYCPGEN IGYCRCTL
  IGYCRDPR IGYCRDSC IGYCREAL IGYCRWT  IGYCSCAN IGYCSIMD IGYCUE$D
  IGYCUE$R IGYCUE$0 IGYCUE$1 IGYCUE$2 IGYCUE$3 IGYCUE$4 IGYCUE$5
  IGYCUE$8 IGYCXREF IGYDRV   IGYZQDRV IGY8RWTU
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  ENT COBOL FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655EC600

Applicable component levels

• R610 PSY UI40709

     UP16/09/24 P F609

• R611 PSY UI40710

     UP16/09/24 P F609

• R612 PSY UI40711

     UP16/09/24 P F609

Fix is available

• Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.