Re: Opening a Variable-Length ESDS

File status 39 means the attributes of the file don't match. When you say
it's an ESDS, I assume you're referring to an Entry Sequenced Data
Set--a.k.a., an arrival sequence file. I've not worked with
variable-length files (I can't even find anything in the IBM documentation
about it), but I know for variable-length fields you need to compile with
CVTOPT(*VARCHAR) or a PROCESS VARCHAR option. The part I don't understand
is that variable-length fields are supposed to simply be declared as
filler if CVTOPT(*VARCHAR) is not specified--it's not supposed to stop the
program from running. Usually file status 39 indicates a level-check
(MCH4131). Are you using the external definition for the file or are you
trying to describe it in your program?

Michael Quigley
Computer Services
The Way International
www.TheWay.org

cobol400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote on 09/20/2008 01:00:03 PM:

----- Message from "Lora" <loravara@xxxxxxxxxxx> on Sat, 20 Sep 2008
05:32:55 -0600 -----

To:

"'COBOL Programming on the iSeries/AS400'" <cobol400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Subject:

[COBOL400-L] Opening a Variable-Length ESDS

Hi,

I have a variable length ESDS that I want to open and write to.

Every time I try, I get a VSAM error code 39, which seems to be telling

me

that I can't open it.

Any thoughts on the select and assign statements for this task?

Thanks.