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IDMS Communications Block

The IDMS communications block is the main interface block between your program and the DBMS. Whenever your program issues a call to the DBMS for a database operation, the DBMS returns information about the outcome of the requested service into the IDMS communications block. In particular, it contains the following fields (described using COBOL field names):

Field

Description

PROGRAM-NAME

Name of the program; supplied by the program

ERROR-STATUS

4-digit code indicating the outcome of the last database service; all zeros indicates successful completion

DBKEY

Database key of current of run unit

RECORD-NAME

Last record type successfully accessed

AREA-NAME

Area name of last record type successfully accessed

ERROR-SET

Name of set last involved in an error condition

ERROR-RECORD

Last record type involved in an error condition

ERROR-AREA

Name of area last involved in an error condition

PAGE-INFO

Page information for current of run unit

DIRECT-DBKEY

Suggested database key for storing a record direct

DML-SEQUENCE

Number of the DML statement last executed if DEBUG was specified in the operating mode