PI68274: WRITING BEYOND THE END OF A TABLE IN V5.X CAN CORRUPT INDEX NAMES IN THAT TABLE.

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Writing beyond the end of a table in COBOL Enterprise Edition
  for z/OS V5.x can corrupt index names for that table
  potentially leading to application ending its execution
  abnormally (e.g. S0C4 abend error).
  
  Note, this behavior differs from the behavior  COBOL Enterprise
  Edition for z/OS  V4.x and earlier versions of COBOL Enterprise
  Edition for z/OS compilers.
  

Local fix

• There is no available workaround in COBOL Enterprise Edition
  V5.x, but using compiler option SSRANGE can detect those coding
  errors earlier on and alert the user of potential
  problem at execution time.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL 6.1 compiling and  *
  *                 running programs that modify data items      *
  *                 past the end of a table when the table has   *
  *                 index-names (INDEXED BY phrase) in it.       *
  *                 NOTE: programs that can run without SSRANGE  *
  *                 errors are not affected.  Only invalid       *
  *                 programs are affected (programs that would   *
  *                 get SSRANGE errors if run after being        *
  *                 compiled with SSRANGE).                      *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Incorrect output at runtime:            *
  *                      Index-names for the table can be        *
  *                      corrupted, resulting in a possible      *
  *                      program ABEND or incorrect results. In  *
  *                      pre-V5 versions of the compiler, index  *
  *                      names would not be corrupted in this    *
  *                      scenario.                               *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the provided PTF.                      *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  Starting with COBOL V5.1, index-names were located in memory
  immediately following the memory for the associated table,
  which meant that programs that modify dsta beyond the end of a
  table could corrupt their associated index-names.
  

Problem conclusion

• Index-names for tables defined in WORKING-STORAGE or
  LOCAL-STORAGE sections have been moved to the top of the
  associated storage area.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

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

  PI65115

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

Modules/Macros

•    IGYCRCTL
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  ENT COBOL FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655EC600

Applicable component levels

• R610 PSY UI40709

     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.