Tom,

while I don't recall a "pure COBOL" method, I would probably
call the GETINFO intrinsic instead of "assembling" all the SW##
values back to a shortint value...

http://invent3k.external.hp.com/~MGR.LROM3K/docs.cgi/B3265090821.13550/90

Regarding the old LaserROM manuals (MPE/V and MPE/iX), you
can also access the above pages on Invent3K by this shortcut:

http://lrom3k.de.vu

;-) Lars.