I think you answered the first question pretty good. If a VSAM file is not closed properly, you'll get file status 97 when doing an open in a COBOL program.
As long as the REPRO completes normally, you will not get a 97 when COBOL opens the file as the REPRO closed the file properly. The manual says For VSAM only: OPEN statement execution successful: File integrity verified. so I would think it always safe to accept 97 as successful open. Personally, I always code my 88-level as 00 and 97 being good open of the VSAM file. Robert If a VSAM file is not closed properly, under what circumstances will the next open (in a Cobol program) generate a file status 97? If an IDCAMS REPRO (backup) is performed prior to the next COBOL open of the file, will the generation of the file status 97 be circumvented? Is it ever *not* safe to accept a file status 97 as a successful open? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
