IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi Friends,
I have a doubt regarding MFS handling in IMS DC programs. Please help.

This is regarding message out (MOD) structure coded in an IMS DC MPP COBOL programs. In the MOD structure, some fields are coded with a preceding attribute field (S9(4) comp) and some fields are coded with out the attribute field.
01 MESSAGE-OUT.
10 FIELD-A PIC X(014).
10 FIELD-B.
15 FIELD-B-ATTR PIC S9(4) COMP.
15 FIELD-B-VALUE PIC X(10).

The MFS code(MOD) for this field is as follows.
MFLD FIELD-A,LTH=14
MFLD FIELD-B,LTH=10

My understanduing is that we need to code FIELD-B-ATTR field only if we code ATTR=YES parameter in the MOD of the MFS. But I see this difference in the base code(ATTR=YES parameter not coded for FIELD-B). Am I missing something?. Please clarify.

I don't know anything specific about what you are talking about, but..

It looks like FIELD-B is expected to be of a variable size, with a maximum of 10, unlike the FILED-A which is presumably a fixed size of 14. Has the "ATTR" in the data definition been hand-coded? Possibilities are that LTH gives a default ATTR, LTH is not an ATTR and is misnamed in the data definition. Something else.

Hi Billy Boyo,
As per my understanding ATTR field is for the field attributes like underlining, highlight etc.
I believe IMS-DC MFS doesn't support variable length field.