Solve U4038 Abend

learnmf · Active User Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 123

I want to know about the user abend code u4038 and the best soliution to resolve it.
As we get it when not mentioning stop run.

What are the other things due to which it occurs.

Thanks
Chandra

KAUSHIK RANGARAJAN · New User Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 Location: chennai

hi,

4038 is a generic abend code which encompasses many 'user' abends.
I remember specifying a small region parameter resulting in ABEND U4038. The cure was to increase the region card on the job.

Here are some other cases:
1) You create JCL to test a COBOL program and you accidentally change a DDNAME that is used by the program. You submit the job and it abends with a U4038.

2) Mismatching record-length to the physical file's record length.

gangas · New User Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 14

U4038 is Cobol LE intercepted abend. messages located in ceedump.
LE-Language Environment.

By using LE we can convert MVS/ESA to os/390

U4038 can occur for several reasons, but it is generally associated with the following common issues:

Invalid Data: There may be invalid or unexpected data in your input file, which the program cannot process correctly.
Subscript Out of Range: An array subscript might be out of range, leading to a runtime error.
File I/O Errors: Issues related to file input/output operations, such as attempting to read beyond the end of the file, can cause this abend.
Insufficient Memory: The program may be trying to use more memory than is available.
Missing or Incorrect DD Statements: Required DD (Data Definition) statements might be missing or incorrectly specified in the JCL.

Steps to Diagnose U4038 Abend:

Review the SYSOUT:
Examine the SYSOUT (system output) listing of your job for detailed error messages. Look for messages that indicate the specific cause of the abend.

Check the COBOL Runtime Messages:
COBOL runtime messages can provide specific details about what went wrong. Look for messages in the form of IGZ followed by numbers, which indicate COBOL runtime issues.

Review the Program Logic:
Ensure that array subscripts are within valid ranges.
Validate that all input data is correct and in the expected format.

Check File Operations:
Verify that all files are correctly defined in the JCL.
Ensure that the files are available and have the correct permissions.
Confirm that the program does not attempt to read beyond the end of a file or write to a file that is not open.

Memory Allocation:
Check if the program is attempting to allocate more memory than available. Adjust memory allocation parameters if necessary.

Example of Common Causes and Solutions:

Example 1: Array Subscript Out of Range
If you have an array and you try to access an element outside its defined range, it can cause a U4038 abend.

withnams · New User Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Chennai

Adding to that point...U4038 occurs when memory not available for STEP to execute. Suppose for DB2 steps REGION=8M should be given to avoid this abend.
An important point is to note that when there is some other abend and the dump is being produced in spool and all the memory available for this dump gets exhausted it results in U4038. So you should go through the complete log to figure what was the original problem to be solved.

vinu · New User Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

The user abend code U4038 indicates an abnormal termination of a program caused by a user-initiated condition. This abend is often associated with issues in application programs written in COBOL, PL/I, or other high-level languages, typically caused by errors or specific conditions defined by the program or by runtime issues.

Causes of U4038 Abend
Program Logic Errors: Mistakes in the application's logic can trigger this abend.
Runtime Errors: Issues like invalid data, arithmetic errors, or other conditions that the program cannot handle.
Missing Modules or Libraries: Failure to load a required program module or dynamic link library (DLL).
Resource Limitations: Running out of memory, file system issues, or other resource constraints.
User-Defined Conditions: Application-specific conditions defined by the programmer that, when met, cause the program to abend with a U4038 code.

Diagnosing U4038 Abend
Examine the Dump: When a U4038 abend occurs, a dump is often produced. Analyze the dump using tools like IPCS (Interactive Problem Control System) to get detailed information about the state of the program at the time of the abend.
Check Error Messages: Review the accompanying error messages and reason codes. These messages often provide additional context and specific details about the cause of the abend.
Program Listing: Look at the program listing to identify the exact statement or line of code where the error occurred. This can be crucial in understanding the context of the error.
Language Environment Trace: Use the Language Environment runtime options to produce a trace of the program's execution. This can help identify the sequence of calls leading up to the abend.

Resolving U4038 Abend
Handle Exceptions: Ensure that all potential exceptions and error conditions are properly caught and handled within the program.
Correct Invalid Statements: Fix any invalid or erroneous statements in the code. Ensure that variables are properly defined and initialized before use.
I/O Handling: Verify that all file operations are correctly coded, including proper handling of file open, read, write, and close operations. Check dataset allocations and ensure they are correct.
Memory Management: Ensure proper memory allocation and deallocation practices. Avoid accessing unallocated memory and double-freeing allocated memory.
Review Language Environment Settings: Ensure that the Language Environment runtime options are correctly set. Incorrect settings can lead to unexpected behavior and abends.

sai_dd · New User Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Cyprus

Hi Chandra,

One of the situation where you encounter the 4038 error will be out of range. If you compile with the Compiler option SSRANGE then you might not receive the out of range problem.

More in detail if you would like to know.

Sai