Microsoft KB Archive/894264

= FIX: You receive an &quot;Illegal variable length table is specified &quot;error message after you try to save a Transaction Integrator object in the TI Designer in Host Integration Server 2004 =

Article ID: 894264

Article Last Modified on 12/4/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 Standard Edition

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario. You try to save a Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 Transaction Integrator (TI) object in the TI Designer. The TI object contains a method that is defined to have a variable length array, and this variable length array depends upon a length specifier that is located after another variable length array. In this scenario, you receive the following error message in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET:

An illegal variable length table is specified in. Length specifiers occurring after the first variable length table are not supported in this release.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because the TI Designer in Host Integration Server 2004 enforces the COBOL rule that a length specifier may not be located after a variable length array.



RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.   Date         Time   Version     Size     File name 01-Mar-2005 00:25  6.0.1941.0  377,344  Mgddtcob390.dll Note Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains these files may also contain additional files.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
The following COBOL data definition illustrates a scenario in which a length specifier is located after a variable length table: 01 INPUT-AREA-DESC. 05 COUNT-1         PIC S9(4) COMP. 05 SOME-DATA OCCURS 15 TIMES DEPENDING ON COUNT-1. 10 DESC1             PIC X(4). 10 DESC2             PIC S9(5) COMP-3. 05 COUNT-2         PIC S9(4) COMP. 05 MORE-DATA OCCURS 25 TIMES DEPENDING ON COUNT-2. 10 MORE-DESC1        PIC X.               10  MORE-DESC2        PIC 9(9). This COBOL data definition will not compile successfully on the mainframe computer. However, you can write a mainframe program to handle this kind of data when the program reads the data that is sent by the TI. Therefore, the strict checking of this condition is removed from the TI Designer when you apply this hotfix.

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbhotfixserver kbhis2004 KB894264

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