PH48728: DISPLAY verb max record length differs between COBOL 4.2 and COBOL 5+, may lead to a wrapping of output for AMODE64

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Although the documentation claims a maximum line length of 255
  characters for the DISPLAY verb, the COBOL 4.2 and earlier
  runtime allows for 256 characters in the absence of carriage
  control, while the COBOL 5 and later runtime sets aside one of
  the 255 bytes it allocates for carriage control regardless of
  carriage control being defined or not.
  
  The result is that if a DISPLAY statement outputs 256 bytes, and
  there is no carriage control defined, the output with COBOL 4.2-
  will all be on one line, while under COBOL 5+ the final two
  characters will be on the next line.
  

Local fix

• None. (The DISPLAY verb is not intended to be used to write
  records, using regular file I/O is recommended.)
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL 6.3 and later      *
  *                 releases running AMODE 64 programs which     *
  *                 output more than 254 bytes on a single line  *
  *                 to a fixed block dataset using the COBOL     *
  *                 DISPLAY statement.                           *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When the COBOL DISPLAY statement is     *
  *                      used to output more than 254 bytes on   *
  *                      a single line to a fixed block dataset  *
  *                      with a RECORD LENGTH long enough        *
  *                      to contain the desired output,          *
  *                      only the first 254 bytes are written    *
  *                      to a single line and the rest of the    *
  *                      output iscontinued in the following     *
  *                      line.                                   *
  *                                                              *
  *                      For example, COBOL program has          *
  *                                                              *
  *                        01 RECORD260 PIC X(260).              *
  *                        ...                                   *
  *                        DISPLAY RECORD260.                    *
  *                                                              *
  *                      SYSOUT is allocated to a FB dataset     *
  *                      whose RECORD LENGTH (LRECL) is 270.     *
  *                                                              *
  *                      The output mismatches between           *
  *                      COBOL 4.2 and 6.3/later releases.       *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Install the provided PTF.                    *
  ****************************************************************
  With COBOL 4.2, DISPLAY is capable of writing 255 bytes
  to a single line in a fixed block dataset containing printer
  control characters (FBA) and 256 bytes to a fixed block dataset
  without the control character (FB).
  
  COBOL 6.3 and later releases need to match the same DISPLAY
  outputs as COBOL 4.2.
  
  COB0603T/K COB0604T/K
  

Problem conclusion

• The size of a buffer and internal logic in the COBOL Runtime
  has been changed to match the desired DISPLAY outputs.
  

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:

Modules/Macros

• CELQSG04 CELQV004 IGZQAPI  IGZQCA64 IGZQCDA  IGZQINPL IGZQJNI2
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  LE ENT COBOL LI

• Fixed component ID

  568819812

Applicable component levels

• R7B0 PSY UI82579

     UP22/10/01 P F209

• R7C0 PSY UI82580

     UP22/10/01 P F209

• R7D0 PSY UI82584

     UP22/10/01 P F209

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.