PI33414: COBOL R/T ENHANCEMENT FOR DEBUG

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as new function.

Error description

• COBOL runtime enhancement.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: IBM Debug Tool users debugging COBOL for     *
  *                 z/OS programs that have subscript or index   *
  *                 values that are outside the boundary of the  *
  *                 maximum occurrence defined in the OCCURS     *
  *                 clause, and are using the LIST command or    *
  *                 other Debug Tool commands using such data    *
  *                 items.                                       *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: No data is returned, only an error      *
  *                      message, in response to a Debug Tool    *
  *                      command in the following cases:         *
  *                                                              *
  *                      - When the value of the OCCURs object   *
  *                        exceeds the maximum defined in the    *
  *                        OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause for the    *
  *                        element referenced.                   *
  *                                                              *
  *                      - When a subscript value exceeds the    *
  *                        maximum defined in an OCCURS          *
  *                        DEPENDING ON Clause                   *
  *                                                              *
  *                      - When an index value is used with a    *
  *                        structure element where the value in  *
  *                        the index is not a multiple of the    *
  *                        length of the element where it is     *
  *                        used. ( The index is used with a      *
  *                        structure other than where it was     *
  *                        defined.)                             *
  *                                                              *
  *                      A message indicating the ODO object,    *
  *                      subscript or index is invalid is        *
  *                      issued.                                 *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the provided PTF.                      *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When running COBOL programs with the Debug Tool the boundary of
  the maximum defined occurrence is enforced. Users are unable to
  list data beyond the upper bounds of the OCCURS definition.
  
  This code is invalid, but may compile without errors and
  run successfully. Debug Tool enforces valid code, but may
  interfere with some users attempting to debug code where they
  are successfully running the invalid code.
  

Problem conclusion

Temporary fix

Comments

• This enhancement reduces enforcement of restrictions on invalid
  coding styles that were previously enforced while debugging. A
  user must take steps to use these enhancements and be aware
  that relieving the restrictions may result in unexpected results
  if care is not taken to ensure values are valid in the users
  execution context.
  
  This enhancement allows:
  
  - The return of data when an OCCURS DEPENDING ON object is
    greater than the maximum occurrence value defined in the
    OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause.
  
  - The return of data when a subscript or index value references
    table elements beyond the maximum boundary defined in the
    OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause. It will not allow returning data
    in cases where the subscript or index exceeds the value of the
    ODO Object.
  
  - It will allow the use of an index value with a structure other
    than the one where it was defined, even when the index value
    is not a multiple of the length of the table element it is
    being used to reference.
  
    When the index value is not a multiple of the structure
    element length, the index value will be used as the offset and
    the length of the index parent will be used to determine the
    subscript value equivalent of the index value that will be
    displayed in the output.
  
  The use of this function may result in unexpected output if
  the OCCURS OBJECT and any index value is not initialized
  correctly prior to being used in a statement.
  In particular, care must be taken when running with AUTOMONITOR
  as it may cause COBOL to attempt to resolve a structure with an
  uninitialized ODO OBJECT.
  
  Invalid or uninitialized values may result in abends, invalid
  and/or excessive data being returned.
  
  These enhancements are supported for programs compiled with the
  following compilers:
  IBM COBOL for OS/390 & VM             V2R2
  Enterprise COBOL for z/OS and OS/390  V3R1 - V3R4
  Enterprise COBOL for z/OS             V4R1 - V4R2
  
  See Debug Tool APAR PI33422 for additional information on the
  EQAXOPT option IGNOREODOLIMIT YES which will allow the
  enhancements shipped in this APAR to be activated.
  

APAR Information

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

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

  UI27453 UI27454

Modules/Macros

•    IGZICA2  IGZIIRS  IGZINSH
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  LE COBOL LIB

• Fixed component ID

  568819802

Applicable component levels

• R780 PSY UI27453

     UP15/05/15 P F505

• R790 PSY UI27454

     UP15/05/15 P F505

Fix is available

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