PI94399: Assigning a LENGTH OF value to a group item moves the binary LENGTH OF value into the group, unlike the v4.2 compiler

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• For the v4.2 and earlier compilers, moving the LENGTH OF an item
  to a group item first converts the LENGTH OF value to a display
  numeric before moving it into the group. The v5+ compilers
  forego that conversion, and move the binary LENGTH OF value into
  the group item. (In both cases, the rest of the group item is
  padded with blanks.)
  

Local fix

• Avoid directly moving LENGTH OF into a group item.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL 5.2 compiling and  *
  *                 running programs that contain a MOVE         *
  *                 statement having a group item as a receiver  *
  *                 and the LENGTH OF special register as a      *
  *                 sender.                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Possible unexpected runtime results.    *
  *                      The LENGTH OF special register is       *
  *                      moved to the group item without any     *
  *                      conversions, which is different from    *
  *                      code generated by pre-V5 versions of    *
  *                      the compiler.                           *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the provided PTF.                      *
  ****************************************************************
  Versions of the compiler after V42 generate different code for
  moves from the LENGTH OF special register to a group item.  In
  particular, no conversions of any kind are done on the value of
  the LENGTH OF special register prior to the move.  This is the
  correct behavior, but since it differs from earlier versions of
  the compiler, users need to be aware of the difference and
  examine their code to determine if changes are necessary.
  

Problem conclusion

• The compiler was updated to generate a warning message for move
  operations involving a group item as a receiver and the LENGTH
  OF special register as a sender.  This helps users identify
  potentially problematic code and re-write it, if necessary, in
  order to ensure the intended behavior.
  

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:

  PI95093 PI96235

Modules/Macros

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

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  ENT COBOL FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655W3200

Applicable component levels

• R520 PSY UI54486

     UP18/03/29 P F803

• R521 PSY UI54487

     UP18/03/30 P F803

• R522 PSY UI54488

     UP18/03/30 P F803

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.