The example code that follows illustrates one method of retrieving the values of the second byte of the file status for display purposes. Note how truncation has been avoided by redefining the two status bytes as one numeric data item (length two bytes) capable of storing up to four decimal digits.
select fd-name
assign "user.dat"
status is fd-name-stat.
...
data division.
file section.
fd fd-name.
01 fd-rec pic x(80)
...
working-storage section.
01 fd-name-stat.
03 sk1 pic x.
03 sk2 pic x.
03 stat-bin redefines sk2 pic 9(2) comp-x.
01 disply-stat.
03 sk1-displ pic x.
03 filler pic x(3).
03 sk2-displpic pic zz9.
...
procedure division.
start-test.
open input fd-name
move sk1 to sk1-displ
if sk1 not= 9
move sk2 to sk2-displpic
else
move stat-bin to sk2-displpic
end-if
display disply-stat
close fd-name
stop run.