Problem:

When compiling a COBOL program severity "E" errors are not being displayed.

Resolution:

You may have either HIDE-MESSAGE or CHANGE-MESSAGE directive set.

The CHANGE-MESSAGE is replacing the HIDE-MESSAGE directive.  Setting either of these directive will "hide" the error so that if the error is encountered, it is ignored.

The syntax is - HIDE-MESSAGE "integer"

The default is - NOHIDE-MESSAGE

The compiler will also accept the directives without a hyphen - HIDEMESSAGE.

Setting the HIDE-MESSAGE "integer" directive will add the error message number to a list to "hide" the error.  To set multiple error messages you must use the directive repeatly.

During compile time any message with a severity of E=error, W=warning, I=Information or flag with it's number in the "hide" list will not be shown in any listing and will note be included in the summary at the end of the compilation.

NOHIDE-MESSAGE clears the list of numbers so no messages are hidden.

NOHIDE-MESSAGE"integer" removes only the specified message number from the list.