Problem:

In Server Express 5.0 WS1 when IKJEFT1A calls a program that doesn't exist, instead of causing an abend it returns a COND CODE = 0012.

IBM defines the DISP clause as:

DISP=(beginning disposition, normal termination disposition, abnormal termination disposition)

An abnormal termination or ABnormal END is really an ABEND.

Just passing a non-zero Condition Code is not enough to cause the JCL system to process the DISP clause as an abnormal termination. Generally, the application would have to call an abend routine (ILBOABN0 or CEE3ABD -LE) to provoke and abend and make the JCL to process the 3rd parameter on the DISP clause.

Resolution:

This has been fixed in Server Express WP4. Now  IKJEFT1A produces a system ABEND S04C when the program called doesn't exist. With this abend the file disposition is processed correctly.