Shmuel's post very accurately characterizes the behavior of the
linkage editor .  It does not characterize that of the binder, which
in this context is very different. even when it is pretending to be
the linkage editor in order to produce load modules.

>From page 31 of the current z/OS MVS program management: user's guide
and reference

<begin extract>
The linkage editor processed the serially reusable (REUS), reenterable
(RENT), and refreshable (REFR) attributes as separate and independent
attributes.  The binder, however, treats them as a single, multivalued
attribute with an implied hierarchical relationship: "refreshable"
implies "reenterable" and "reenterable" implies "serially reusable".
This might result in some confusion for prior linkage editor users,
who are accustomed to specifying inconsistent combinations of these
attributes, such as "REFR,NORENT".  In such circumstances the binder
selects the strongest reusabiluty attribute among those specified.
In addition, unlike the linkage editor, the binder honors any override
of reusability specified in the PARM statement.
</end extract>

Binder documentation has sometimes been prospective, characterizing
what hopefully was to be rather than what is.  In this case, however,
the manual describes exactly what the binder now---i.e., for z/OS 1.13
and 2.1---does.

It is, of course, a break with tradition, but this manual's further
recommendation, loc. cit.,

<begin extract>
In order to eliminate such conflicts, specify only a single attribute
from the set.  Use the keyword(value) form, such as REUS(RENT), rather
than keyword only forms, such as NORENT or REFR.
</end extract>

should be complied with, at least prospectively.

For only serially reusable code the use of this keyword(value) form
admittedly yields the barbarism REUS(REUS); but. since serially
reusable code is at best obsolescent, there should be no actual
occasion to employ it.

John Gilmore, Ashland, MA 01721 - USA

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