How to end called-from job and return to menu

WoodEngineer

7900 pts.

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CL programming

ENDJOB

IBM iSeries

Scenario: From a menu, user runs vendor-supplied program A. PGM A calls user written PGM B for data validation. If program B discovers invalid data, it will issue an error message, then end itself and PGM A, returning the user to the menu.

Problem: How can PGM B end itself and PGM A without also ending the menu program? I tried ENDJOB but it ends everything and returns the user to the sign on screen.

Software/Hardware used:
i5/OS 6.1

Asked: August 26, 2014 10:44 PM Last updated: September 2, 2014 5:50 PM

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Discuss This Question: 13 Replies

Splat Aug 27, 2014 6:36 PM GMT

ENDJOB will end the current job, in this case the job under which the programs are running.

If the menu program is being ended, I would suspect the process ending PGM A forces an abnormal end of high severity. If you can access the code of PGM A, find out why it's failing so dramatically.

Is there a particular reason for forcing PGM A to end when PGM B reports an error?

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WoodEngineer Aug 27, 2014 6:59 PM GMT

My goal is to add the least amount of code possible to the vendor's program. We find that minimizes pain and suffering when updates arrive.
I would like to add one line of code to the vendor's program (A) to call my program (B) which will perform some additional validation. If my program (B) discovers an error, it want to also end the vendor's program (A) and return the user to the vendor's menu.

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philpl1jb Aug 27, 2014 7:17 PM GMT

Assuming that Program A is RPGLE ..

This seems way to easy.

Program A calls program B passes enditNow bolean

EnditNow = *off;

Call PgmB EnditNow;

If EnditNow;

*inlr = *on;

Retrun;

Endif;

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WoodEngineer Aug 27, 2014 9:11 PM GMT

Phil, yes that would definitely work. However, it inserts more code into the vendor's program than is ideal.

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Splat Aug 27, 2014 9:33 PM GMT

I appreciate not wanting to modify third-party code (I'm in a similar situation) but there are times when it's necessary.

What does happen in PGM A after PGM B returns with an error?

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WoodEngineer Aug 27, 2014 10:42 PM GMT

Program A needs to end immediately because a critical piece of control data is missing. Too bad the vendor did not catch this in their code.

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Splat Aug 28, 2014 4:59 PM GMT

If that's the case you're best served by following Phil's suggestion & bring PGM A to an ordered end.

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WoodEngineer Aug 28, 2014 5:19 PM GMT

Thank you all for your suggestions. I agree that the best solution, as several suggest, is to end program A if program B return an error code.
Looks like I need to give up the dream of only adding a single line of code to the vendor's program. :-(

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philpl1jb Aug 29, 2014 3:02 PM GMT

Put it in a little copy book

Add the /copy directive to vendor code.

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WoodEngineer Aug 29, 2014 5:40 PM GMT

I like the /copy idea. This is a CL program which I do not believe supports copy statements.

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bvining Aug 29, 2014 9:22 PM GMT

1) If you're reasonably current on releases then CL does support the INCLUDE command

2) Assuming the menu you want to return to handles/monitors for failures in the called program (escapes) then your program B could send an escape message to the call stack entry prior to the vendor program A. That should end both your program B and the vendor program A

Bruce Vining

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WoodEngineer Sep 2, 2014 4:28 PM GMT

I will check that out, Bruce. Thanks for the tips.

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ToddN2000 Sep 2, 2014 5:50 PM GMT

My only other suggestion would be to notify the vendor of the issue and hope they fix it in a future upgrade/release. We have a 3rd party package as well and updates are a pain when you have a lot of customization. I feel your pain. We do have a contact to report problems. Sometimes they will send us patch code then they will incorporate it into their future upgrade.

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