E15/E35 return codes and EXITCK

DFSORT's interpretation of E15 and E35 return codes depends upon whether EXITCK=STRONG or EXITCK=WEAK is in effect. See the discussion of the EXITCK option in OPTION control statement for more information. The following tables show the exact meaning of each E15 and E35 return code with EXITCK=STRONG and EXITCK=WEAK in all possible situations.

Note:

You can determine whether EXITCK=STRONG or EXITCK=WEAK is in effect from message ICE132I.
Use of EXITCK=WEAK can make it difficult to detect errors in the logic of your E15 and E35 user exit routines.
EXITCK=WEAK is treated like EXITCK=STRONG if tape work data sets are specified for a sort application or if the Blockset technique is not selected for a merge application.

Table 1. E15 Without a SORTIN Data Set
E15 Without a SORTIN Data SetE15 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG	Meaning with EXITCK=WEAK
0	Invalid	Do not return
4	Invalid	Do not return
8	Do not return	Do not return
12	Insert record	Insert record
16	Terminate DFSORT	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Invalid	Do not return
All others	Invalid	Invalid

Table 2. E15 With a SORTIN Data Set Before End of Input
E15 With a SORTIN Data Set Before End of InputE15 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG or EXITCK=WEAK
0	No action/record altered
4	Delete record
8	Do not return
12	Insert record
16	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Alter/replace record
All others	Invalid

Table 3. E15 With a SORTIN Data Set After End of Input
E15 With a SORTIN Data Set After End of InputE15 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG	Meaning with EXITCK=WEAK
0	Invalid	Do not return
4	Invalid	Do not return
8	Do not return	Do not return
12	Insert record	Insert record
16	Terminate DFSORT	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Invalid	Do not return
All others	Invalid	Invalid

Table 4. E35 With a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set Before End of Input
E35 With a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set Before End of InputE35 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG or EXITCK=WEAK
0	No action/record altered
4	Delete record
8	Do not return
12	Insert record
16	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Alter/replace record
All others	Invalid

Table 5. E35 Without a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set Before End of Input
E35 Without a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set Before End of InputE35 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG	Meaning with EXITCK=WEAK
0	Invalid	Delete record
4	Delete record	Delete record
8	Do not return	Do not return
12	Invalid	Delete record
16	Terminate DFSORT	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Invalid	Delete record
All others	Invalid	Invalid

Table 6. E35 With a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set After End of Input
E35 With a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set After End of InputE35 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG	Meaning with EXITCK=WEAK
0	Invalid	Do not return
4	Invalid	Do not return
8	Do not return	Do not return
12	Insert record	Insert record
16	Terminate DFSORT	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Invalid	Do not return
All others	Invalid	Invalid

Table 7. E35 without a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set After End of Input
E35 without a SORTOUT or OUTFIL Data Set After End of InputE35 Return Code	Meaning with EXITCK=STRONG	Meaning with EXITCK=WEAK
0	Invalid	Do not return
4	Invalid	Do not return
8	Do not return	Do not return
12	Invalid	Do not return
16	Terminate DFSORT	Terminate DFSORT
20 (COBOL only)	Invalid	Do not return
All others	Invalid	Invalid