Batch loader return codes

The return code of a loader step is determined by the return codes resulting from batch loader processing and from loaded program processing.

The return code indicates whether errors occurred during the execution of the loader or of the loaded program. The return code can be tested through the COND parameter of the JOB statement specified for this job or the COND parameter of the EXEC statement specified in any succeeding job step (see z/OS MVS JCL User's Guide). Table 1 shows the return codes.

Note: Error diagnostics (SYSLOUT or SYSTERM data set, or both) for the loader will show the severity of errors found by the loader.

Table 1. Batch loader return codes. The table shows the code returned to the caller, the loader return code, the program return code, and the description.
Code returned to caller	Loader return code	Program return code	Description
0	0	0	Program loaded successfully, and execution of the loaded program was successful.
0	4	0	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, but no error occurred during execution of the loaded program.
0	8(LET)	4	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, but no error occurred during execution of the loaded program.
4	0	4	Program loaded successfully, and an error occurred during execution of the loaded program.
4	4	4	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and an error did occur during execution of the loaded program.
4	8(LET)	4	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and an error did occur during execution of the loaded program.
8	0	8	Program loaded successfully, and an error occurred during execution of the loaded program.
8	4	8	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and an error did occur during execution of the loaded program.
8	8(LET)	8	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and an error did occur during execution of the loaded program.
8	8		The batch loader found a condition that could make execution impossible. The loaded program was not executed.
12	0	12	Program loaded successfully, and an error occurred during execution of the loaded program.
12	4	12	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and an error did occur during execution of the loaded program.
12	8(LET)	12	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and an error did occur during execution of the loaded program.
12	12		The batch loader could not load the program successfully; execution impossible.
16	0	16	Program loaded successfully, and the loaded program found a terminating error.
16	4	16	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and a terminating error was found during execution of the loaded program.
16	8(LET)	16	The batch loader found a condition that might cause an error during execution, and a terminating error was found during execution of the loaded program.
16	16		The batch loader could not load program; execution impossible.