IBM Mainframe Forum

In Cobol we may get return code of 4 or 8 or 12 or 16, If this is the case why the picture clause of return code in alphanumeric field? why not numeric?

Hi Arun,

I dont think so....
I ususally define my return code field as numeric and my program handels the return code properly...
Can you please be little more specific in your query.

If you check section 1.3.8.6 of the COBOL Language Reference manual, you will find

The RETURN-CODE special register has the implicit definition:


01 RETURN-CODE GLOBAL PICTURE S9(4) USAGE BINARY VALUE ZERO.

So why do you think it would be alphanumeric since COBOL explicitly tells you it is not?