Problem:

The customer was attempting to use the SORTSPACE by setting it as a compiler directive in the source code:

  $set SORTSPACE=512M

Sort space set to 1MB

Received the folowing error:

Set compiler directive SORTSPACE = 512M  "invalid, not allowed here COBCH0053S"

Resolution:

SORTSPACE is not a directive that can be set within a source program.

It is an environment variable that needs to be set at the system level or by setting it within a projects properties for Application settings.