PH00612: The compiler's assumptions about compile-time lengths of OCCURS UNBOUNDED items cause problems with some language constructs

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• For various language constructs the COBOL compiler assumes
  maximum data item lengths at compile time, something that can't
  actually be done for items defined as OCCURS 1 TO UNBOUNDED,
  leading to erroneous outcomes.
  
  One known case is when using XML PARSE on (a reference modified)
  UNBOUNDED item. The maximum compile-time length of the XML-TEXT
  (XML-NTEXT) special register is presumed to be some multiple of
  the document size, but is calculated as 4 when the document is
  based on an UNBOUNDED item. Although LENGTH OF XML-TEXT returns
  the correct length of the parsed element at run-time, using
  FUNCTION NATIONAL-OF or DISPLAY-OF on XML-TEXT, which depend on
  the compile-time length to allocate a translation buffer,
  results in a translated value of only 4 characters.
  
  There are thought to be additional erroneous outcomes when using
  UNBOUNDED items.
  

Local fix

• Avoid using OCCURS UNBOUNDED. In the case of a parse with
  RETURNING NATIONAL, the XML-NTEXT can be MOVEd to an
  appropriately sized PIC N() item before using FUNCTION
  DISPLAY-OF on the copy.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL V6.2 with          *
  *                 programs that have XML PARSE where the XML   *
  *                 document is in a group that contains an      *
  *                 UNBOUNDED table, and XML-NTEXT is            *
  *                 referenced in an intrinsic function in the   *
  *                 PROCESSING PROCEDURE for the XML PARSE       *
  *                 statements.                                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Incorrect output for FUNCTION           *
  *                      DISPLAY-OF with XML-NTEXT as source     *
  *                      and the XML PARSE statement is          *
  *                      processing an UNBOUNDED data item.      *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the provided PTF.                      *
  ****************************************************************
  The compiler was incorrectly calculating the buffer to pass to
  the conversion routine for DISPLAY-OF, which resulted in
  truncation of data.
  

Problem conclusion

• The compiler was corrected to pass a large buffer to the
  conversion rout.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

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

  PI93463

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

Modules/Macros

• IGY8RWTU IGYCASMB IGYCCBE  IGYCCCRT 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 IGYCOB2E IGYCOPI
  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 IGYDRV   IGYEQCWI
  IGYMSGE  IGYMSGK  IGYMSGT  IGYQCBE  IGYWIVP1 IGYWIVP2 IGYZQDRV
  IGYZQENU IGYZQJPN
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  ENT COBOL FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655EC600

Applicable component levels

• R620 PSY UI58270

     UP18/09/06 P F809

• R621 PSY UI58271

     UP18/10/02 P F809

• R622 PSY UI57344

     UP18/07/31 P F807

• R62H PSY UI58273

     UP18/09/06 P F809

Fix is available

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