If I have understood your code (and I am not a COBOL programmer) then the
machine code is loaded into a data area and executed from there. I think the
latest z machine offer non-executable storage. If COBOL makes use of this,
or is ever changed to make use of this, then I think your code will fail.

Lennie Dymoke-Bradshaw
Consultant working on contract for BMC mainframe Services by RSM Partners
'Dance like no one is watching. Encrypt like everyone is.'

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
Farley, Peter x23353
Sent: 17 March 2021 15:50
To: [email protected]
Subject: This Call-Assembler-inside-COBOL technique works, but is it risky
to use?

I discovered that one can code and call extremely simple assembler code from
completely within a COBOL source program, but it is a two-step process which
I will describe below.

My question is whether using a technique like this is "risky" in the sense
that it may someday, under a future incarnation of the compiler, stop
working?

The technique:

Code a simple assembler program like the following and browse the resulting
listing that shows the generated object code:

COBSTCKE CSECT ,
         L     15,0(,1)  GET ARGUMENT ADDRESS
         STCKE 0(15)     STCKE INTO ARGUMENT AREA
         XR    15,15     SET RETURN CODE = 0
         BR    14        RETURN TO CALLER

Then copy the generated object code into a COBOL source program as follows:

       ID DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. COBSTCKE.
       ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  WS-TOD-VALUE              PIC  X(16).

       01  WS-GETTOD-PROGRAM.
      *                 GET ARGUMENT ADDRESS         L  15,0(,1)
           05  FILLER       PIC  X(04) VALUE X'58F01000'.
      *                 STCKE INTO ARGUMENT AREA     STCKE 0(15)
           05  FILLER       PIC  X(04) VALUE X'B278F000'.
      *                 SET RETURN-CODE = 0          XR 15,15
           05  FILLER       PIC  X(02) VALUE X'17FF'.
      *                 RETURN TO CALLER             BR 14
           05  FILLER       PIC  X(02) VALUE X'07FE'.

       01  WS-GETTOD-PTR.
           05  GETTOD-ADDR            PROCEDURE-POINTER VALUE NULL.
           05  FILLER                 REDEFINES GETTOD-ADDR.
               10  GETTOD-ADDR1       POINTER.
               10  GETTOD-ADDR2       POINTER.

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.

           SET GETTOD-ADDR1 TO ADDRESS OF WS-GETTOD-PROGRAM.
           CALL GETTOD-ADDR USING WS-TOD-VALUE.
           DISPLAY FUNCTION HEX-OF (WS-TOD-VALUE).
           GOBACK.

Peter

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