Isn't there a "STATIC" storage declaration option in COBOL as for other languages (specifically thinking of FORTRAN)? I have always relied on subroutines' variables getting re-initialized every time, and only selected variables retaining their values call-to-call. [log in to unmask] on 12/16/2001 10:51:00 PM To: [log in to unmask]@Internet cc: (bcc: David T Darnell/CO/KAIPERM) Subject: [HP3000-L] Retention of switch value in called program Hi All, Scenario: HP3000 and COBOL I have a main program and a sub program. The subprogram is called for every record in the main program. (i.e) if there are 10 records to be processed, the subprogram will be called 10 times from the main program. I have a switch in the sub program which is set to Y in the declaration. This switch is set to N for the first record and should remain N for the subsequent records. but the issue is that this switch resets to Y for every call to the subprogram. Can anyone point me as to where i am going wrong or is there something which i should do for the value of switch to be retained. Thanks & Regards Jay _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html * * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *