Page 1 of 1

Non-Printable characters

PostPosted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:48 am
by CPANTX
I am using cobol file handling program that takes input from RUN JCL and puts it in a PS already created(DISP=SHR). Program is running successfully but when I open the PS to see the contents, it shows non-printable characters.

 ****** ***************************** Top of Data ******************************
 ==MSG> -CAUTION- Data contains invalid (non-display) characters. Use command   
 ==MSG>           ===> FIND P'.' to position cursor to these                   
 000001  #                                                                     
 ****** **************************** Bottom of Data ****************************


Line 000001 is the data that I put in the PS.

Why these invalid characters?

Thanks and regards,
CPANTX

Re: Non-Printable characters

PostPosted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:12 pm
by Bill Dennis
Did your test only write one record? Check to make sure you are actually moving data to the output area before writing.

Re: Non-Printable characters

PostPosted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:06 pm
by dick scherrer
Hello,

Look at "your data" in hex. . .

The entire output area needs to have valid data (typically a MOVE SPACES to the output file area or working-storage area) before writing the output.

If the output data contains packed-decimal or binary fields, there will usually be non-display characters in the output.