The 0, 8, and 12 return codes in register 15 are paired with reason codes in the RPL feedback area.

The reason codes in the RPL feedback area can be examined with the SHOWCB or TESTCB macro. Code your examination routine immediately following the request macro. Logical errors, physical errors, and reaching the end of the data set all cause VSAM to exit to the appropriate exit routine, if one is provided.

Coordinate error checking in your program with your error-analysis exit routines. If they terminate the program, for instance, you do not need to code a check for an error after a request. But, if a routine returns to VSAM to continue processing, you should check register 15 after a request to determine if there was an error. Even when an error is handled by an exit routine, you may want to modify processing because of the error.