Condition representation

This topic describes the format and use of condition representation within Language Environment. Conditions can be defined in many ways. Some examples are hardware- or software-detected events (which might or might not be critical for the application to run properly), asynchronous events, or the completion of a unit of work (successfully or unsuccessfully).

Systems communicate information about conditions in a variety of ways. Return and condition codes are examples of condition information. Also, common usage is almost nonexistent in representing or communicating these conditions across IBM® products or platforms. Therefore, Language Environment is required to define a consistent data type to represent conditions and communicate information about them to enable ILC and cross-system source code portability of applications The methodology presented here is required for the representation and communication of condition-related information:
  • As a feedback code (return information) from all Language Environment callable services
  • As input to the Language Environment condition manager
  • As input to the Language Environment message services
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