IDMS CV abends with U3996 after message id parameter change.

Products

• IDMS
• IDMS - Database
• IDMS - ADS

Issue/Introduction

IDMS CV abends with U3996 after message id parameter change. A DC program issued the following command with an invalid MESSAGE ID parameter; after which the program caused the IDMS CV to abend.  

WRITE LOG MESSAGE ID 999888 
MESSAGE PREFIX IS 'SS' 

What is the reason for the abend?

Environment

IDMS - all supported releases

Resolution

The following syntax is incorrect: 
WRITE LOG MESSAGE ID 999888 
MESSAGE PREFIX IS 'SS' 

The correct syntax is: 

WRITE LOG MESSAGE ID 9998880 
MESSAGE PREFIX IS 'SS' 

Furthermore, the DML Ref COBOL WRITE LOG documentation states: 

MESSAGE ID 
Specifies the message ID. The first six digits specify the ID of the message; the seventh digit specifies the message's severity code. 

If you only give 6 digits like 999888 then you are sending 0999888 meaning the message would be SS099988 with severity 8. 

MESSAGE ID 9998880 is correct and will issue message SS999888 with severity 0. 

Lastly, the original WRITE LOG syntax told IDMS the message severity was 8 and this will bring CV down every time.
Message severity 8 means abend IDMS CV with 3996.