PH44764: UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR WHEN CHECKING RETURN-CODE SPECIAL REGISTER UPON RETURN FROM CALLED ASSEMBLER PROGRAM

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When a called assembler program returns to the COBOL caller, an
  incorrect code path may be taken when the calling routine checks
  the Return-Code Special Register.  When the COBOL program is
  compiled with OPT(2), an incorrect length may used in the
  comparison for Return-Code Special Register.
  

Local fix

• BYPASS/CIRCUMVENTION:
  Compile the calling program with OPT(0).  Called assembler
  program should also ensure a valid value in reg15 upon return to
  the calling COBOL program.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL 6.2 compiling and  *
  *                 running programs with the OPT(1|2) option in *
  *                 effect and the program contains a CALL       *
  *                 statement and one of the following is true:  *
  *                                                              *
  *                 1) the program contains a reference to the   *
  *                 RETURN-CODE special register after the CALL  *
  *                 statement; OR                                *
  *                                                              *
  *                 2) the CALL statement contains a RETURNING   *
  *                 phrase and the returned value receiver data  *
  *                 item is a 2-byte binary numeric item (i.e.,  *
  *                 usage COMP/COMP-4/COMP-5/BINARY) and the     *
  *                 program contains a reference to that         *
  *                 returned value after the CALL statement      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Incorrect run time result.              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the IBM-provided PTF.                  *
  ****************************************************************
  The COBOL compiler optimizer could, under certain circumstances,
  mishandle the RETURN-CODE special register or a 2-byte binary
  numeric returned value leading to an incorrect result.
  

Problem conclusion

• The COBOL compiler was updated to ensure that program
  optimization does not lead to incorrect handling of the
  RETURN-CODE special register and 2-byte binary numeric returned
  values.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

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

  PH44015

• 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 IGYCLIBR IGYCLSTR IGYCLVL0 IGYCLVL1 IGYCLVL2
  IGYCLVL3 IGYCLVL8 IGYCMALL 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
  IGYQCB   IGYQCBE  IGYQCBG  IGYQSPLT IGYTCARA IGYTSALE IGYZQEN6
  IGYZQENU IGYZQJP6 IGYZQJPN
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  ENT COBOL FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655EC600

Applicable component levels

• R630 PSY UI81630

     UP22/07/29 P F207

• R631 PSY UI81631

     UP22/07/29 P F207

• R632 PSY UI81632

     UP22/07/29 P F207

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.