Getting 163   Illegal character in numeric field error in the numeric field.

While debugging, value for the field is initially getting displayed as junk  in numeric field. When we recheck the same field, the correct value gets displayed as shown in snapshot below.

Value checked for 1st time

Value checked for 2nd time

Need help to solve the Illegal character issue in numeric field.

Hi Priya.

A couple of questions:

Which product and version number are you using?

Under which OS platform are you running?

What exactly do you mean by the 2nd time you look at it the number is correct? Do you mean you examine it once and then immediately examine it again and the value changes or do you examine it once and then do further processing and then examine it again?

What is the hex value of the field when you examine it?

Thanks

Hi Chris,

I am using visual cobol version 6.0 and application is running in Linux server.

I examined the value in animator once (value with illegal character) and then immediately examined it again, value is displaying correctly.

Field is declared as S9(9)V99 COMP-3.

Do let me know if additional information is required

What is the hex value of the field when you examine it both the first time and the second time?

Hi  

Sorry for delay. Below are screenshots with the Hex value while monitoring the same field for first and second time. 

Field value and Hex value for First time - Getting "?" in the field.

Field value and Hex value for Second time. Immediately checked for second time, value displayed correctly.

It appears that the question mark is actually a character that is contained within this numeric field and not some spurious character that is being displayed improperly.

I am not really sure why examining the contents of the field is changing the value.
We have tried to recreate the problem and cannot.

How is this field being populated, move statement, file read, database select, etc?
At what point does this question mark actually appear in this field?

You should open up a support ticket for this problem so that we can investigate it further. We will probably need you to send in a cutdown repro or let us do a screen share with you.

Sure   Can we raise a ticket and provide the details. Can I request the support team to assign the ticket to you.

Will you able to help us on this issue?

Yes, you can have the ticket assigned to me and either myself or a colleague will handle it.

Please provide answers to the following questions in the ticket details:

What Linux OS are you running, name and version?

How is this field being populated, move statement, file read, database select, etc?
At what point does this question mark actually appear in this field?

Can you provide a cutdown so that we can try to reproduce the behavior in house?

Thanks

Hi Chris,

I have created a ticket 02470872 for this issue in microfocus site.  I analyzed further on the issue and found that illegal character is displayed while fetching the record from table. It will be helpful if you can look into this issue.

Thanks