Hi Jim,

You wrote:
>
> Hey gang,
>
> I can't remember how to do this and can't find my intrinsics manual...
>
> Does anyone know how to get the value stored in a system variable in
> cobol?
>
> Thanks.

Here's our rather simple solution (for string variables):

      02  STATUS-INFO                PIC S9(09) COMP.
      02  STRING-VALUE               PIC  9(09) COMP VALUE 2.
      02  VARIABLE-NAME              PIC  X(16).
      02  DESTINATION-VARIABLE       PIC  X(16).
                        :
                        :
      MOVE "SYS_VAR_NAME" TO VARIABLE-NAME.

      CALL INTRINSIC "HPCIGETVAR"
          USING VARIABLE-NAME, STATUS-INFO,
              STRING-VALUE, DESTINATION-VARIABLE.

      IF STATUS-INFO <> ZERO
         DISPLAY "The HPCIGETVAR intrinsic failed."
         GO TO ERROR-ROUTINE.

If you'd like, I could send a copy of this intrinsic's page (from
the laserrom manual), I thought it was a little long to be included
here...

HTH!

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   My mind is my own, as are my ideas and opinions.
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   Tim Ericson            tericson     DenKor Dental Management Corp.
   Sr. Programmer/Analyst   at denkor   (aka Willamette Dental Group)
     (& Systems Manager)      dot com    503-526-4440 (direct number)
   Programming HP3000s since 1983!          http://www.denkor.com
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