Microsoft KB Archive/51598

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Error 137 “Illegal device … not mass storage”; COBOL 3.00

PSS ID Number: Q51598 Article last modified on 12-19-1989

3.00 3.00a | 3.00 3.00a MS-DOS | OS/2

Summary: The program shown below gives run-time error 137, which needs to be added to Chapter 4 of the “Microsoft COBOL Compiler 3.0: Error Messages Manual” for Versions 3.00 and 3.00a. This error means “Illegal device specification - not mass storage.” This information applies to Microsoft COBOL Versions 3.00 and 3.00a for MS-DOS and MS OS/2.

More Information: The following program, TEST.COB, when compiled and run produces run-time error 137. This error occurs because a file that is assigned to PRINTER is opened for I/O (I/O stands for input/output) and input cannot come from a PRINTER device. A file that is opened for I/O must be a mass storage device. Run-time error 137 is documented as follows in the “Micro Focus COBOL/2: Error Messages” manual, which was included with the Micro Focus product: 137 Open mode not supported for this file * You are trying to open a device in an illegal mode; for example, opening a printer for input. * Either the assignment of a file name is incorrect, or your program needs to be changed.

CodeExample

  $SET ANS85
   IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
   PROGRAM-ID.  TestProgram.
  *
  * Example:  File status
  *
   ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
   INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
   FILE-CONTROL.
       SELECT TestFile
          ASSIGN TO DISK.
       SELECT Prt-File
          ASSIGN TO PRINTER.
   DATA DIVISION.
   FILE SECTION.
   FD   TestFile
     VALUE OF FILE-ID IS "MyInFile.dat".
   01   MyString        PIC X.
   FD Prt-File.
   01   Print-String    PIC X.
   PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   MyOpen.
          OPEN I-O TestFile Prt-File.
          CLOSE TestFile.
          CLOSE Prt-File.
          STOP RUN.

Compile and link as follows: COBOL TEST.COB; LINK TEST; If the program is compiled with the /ANIM compiler directive and executed in the animator, the error message “Illegal device specification - not mass storage” will be displayed. To correct this problem, break the OPEN statement into two statements, and open the PRINTER file for output only, as follows: OPEN I-O TestFile. OPEN OUTPUT Prt-File.