Gary,
   I seems like you should be able to use $SUBPROGRAM (as apposed to
$DYNAMIC or $ANSISUB {which is faked}) as long as you don't need to
put the routine into an SL or XL.  This would allow the data to
remain between calls w/o closing the database.  Of course, this
means that the suprogram needs to be preped or linked into the main
program because it uses global data.  If you're using COBOLII/XL
on an MPE/ix machine, you should have no problems.  If you're on a
classic machine, the combination of the main + the subprograms may
require some playing with segments to make things fit.
   If the cobol is ANSI '85 compliant, you can compile everything
including the subprograms from 1 source file.  Check out the
EXTERNAL clause in the WORKING-STORAGE section or COBOL '85.
 
Hope this helps.
P.S. Is this the same Gary Peck who used to support TRANSACT at HP?
 
Rich (former HP Response Center languages support)
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\!DISC / Rich Trapp                          | My opinions are my own.
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