Physical Errors

A physical error (also known as an I/O error) occurs when VSAM is unable to access a data set or record because of a hardware error. A hardware error is usually (but not always) caused by a problem with the disk on which the VSAM data set resides. Physical errors are very rare.
When a physical error occurs while processing VSAM data sets, SAS does the following:
  1. prints a set of appropriate messages in the SAS log.
  2. sets the _ERROR_ automatic variable to 1.
  3. fills the logical record buffer with blanks. If a physical error occurs while reading, the INPUT buffer is filled with blanks. If it occurs while writing, the PUT buffer is filled with blanks.
  4. sets the _IORC_ automatic variable to 12, which is the VSAM return code for physical errors.
  5. sets the _FDBK_ automatic variable to the VSAM feedback code for the physical error.
  6. continues with the DATA step.
Copyright © SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.