Ray, Here is the combination that works (but requires a file definition which is not okay).
I give it a 0 on OPEN (result: the file is opened) I will get now only WRITE calls (not exactly what documentation says) - and I can extract my data I get a final CLOSE call. What I think is wrong- the return-code of 4 (with any reason) is ignored. Instead of passing control to the exit (WRITE or PROCESS) it passes control to it for CLOSE and then terminates with RC=20. Message from HLASM is: ** ASMA418C Unable to open ADATA file (althru it is defines as without the exit or when I give it RC of 0) -- Martin Pi_cap_CPU - all you ever need around MWLC/SCRT/CMT in z/VSE more at http://www.picapcpu.de
