Compatible return code tests

The system applies the return code tests on the IF/THEN/ELSE/ENDIF statement construct to the return code, if any, produced by a job, step, or procedure step in the job. To take advantage of this statement construct, the return codes for each step should have compatible meanings. For example, the COBOL compiler and the linkage editor have compatible return codes:

4: Minor errors were found, but a compiled program or load module was produced. Execution may be successful.
8: Major errors were found, but a compiled program or load module was produced. Execution will probably not be successful.
12: Serious errors were found. A compiled program or load module was not produced.

To continue processing in spite of small errors, code the return code test as follows:

   //NOTBAD    IF   (RC > 4)   THEN
   //BADERR    EXEC   PGM=ERRRTN
   //NOGOOD    ELSE
   //NEXTSTEP  EXEC
   //          ENDIF

When a previous job step has a return code greater than 4, step BADERR executes an error routine procedure called ERRRTN. When the return code on all previous job steps is less than or equal to 4, the ELSE statement allows processing to continue with step NEXTSTEP.