open extend in COBOL not working

Question

I'm trying to write a subprogram in COBOL to make a logfile called from my main program. I don't want the logfile is cleared every time I call the subprogram so I use 'open extend'. The problem is because of an unknown reason it won't work, the program does nothing. When i change 'open extend' into 'open output' it works but I don't want the file is overwritten every time.

   IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
   PROGRAM-ID. LOGGER.
   ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
   INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
   FILE-CONTROL.
   SELECT LOGFILE ASSIGN TO "LOGFILE.txt"
   ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL.
   DATA DIVISION.
   FILE SECTION.
   FD LOGFILE.
   copy "FDLOGGER.cpy".
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

   LINKAGE SECTION.
   01 LOGFILEBOODSCHAP      PIC X(150) value spaces.

   Procedure division USING LOGFILEBOODSCHAP.
   pgm.
   open EXTEND LOGFILE
   Move Current-time to TIJD
   Move Current-date to DATUM
   Move LOGFILEBOODSCHAP to BOODSCHAP   
   write logrecord
   close LOGFILE
   exit program
   . 

Answer 1

Well, it's a guess, as you have not provided much, but if "LOGFILE.txt" does not exist, you will need OPTIONAL on your SELECT.

Suggest you put FILE STATUS checking in your code.

Answer 2

I know your question is very old here. But I was still having the same problem today and after a few hours I discover that GnuCOBOL 2.0 with OpenCobolIDE 4.7.6 that I am using generates error 35 when trying to use OPEN EXTEND. I solved it in a not very elegant way, but it works perfectly. I am sharing the solution I found.

   IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
   PROGRAM-ID. CREATFIL.

   ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
   CONFIGURATION SECTION.
   REPOSITORY.
       FUNCTION ALL INTRINSIC.
   INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
   FILE-CONTROL.
       SELECT FD-VIRTUAL ASSIGN TO "CADFILE.TXT"
       ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL
       ACCESS MODE IS SEQUENTIAL
       FILE STATUS IS WS-GET-ERROR.

   DATA DIVISION.
   FILE SECTION.
   FD  FD-VIRTUAL.
   01  FS-BOOK.
       05 NOME PIC X(40).

   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   77  WS-GET-ERROR      PIC XX.

   LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION.
   01  TB-VIRTUAL.
       05  TB-BOOK.
           10 LS-NOME    PIC X(40).
   77  LS-ENTER          PIC X.
   77  WS-RESP           PIC A VALUE "Y".

   PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       OPEN EXTEND FD-VIRTUAL.
       IF WS-GET-ERROR = "35" 
          OPEN OUTPUT FD-VIRTUAL
       END-IF
       IF WS-GET-ERROR = "00"
          PERFORM UNTIL UPPER-CASE(WS-RESP) NOT = "Y"
             DISPLAY X"0D"
             DISPLAY "Name: " WITH NO ADVANCING
             ACCEPT LS-NOME
             WRITE FS-BOOK FROM TB-BOOK
             DISPLAY "More record (Y) for YES " WITH NO ADVANCING
             DISPLAY "- any key for NOT: " 
                WITH NO ADVANCING
             ACCEPT WS-RESP
             IF UPPER-CASE(WS-RESP) NOT = "Y"
                EXIT PERFORM
             END-IF
          END-PERFORM
       END-IF.

       CLOSE FD-VIRTUAL.

       DISPLAY X"0D".
       DISPLAY "Press <ENTER> to finish... " WITH NO ADVANCING.
       ACCEPT LS-ENTER.
       STOP RUN.
   END PROGRAM CREATFIL.

Observe the instruction

OPEN EXTEND FD-VIRTUAL.
IF WS-GET-ERROR = "35" 
   OPEN OUTPUT FD-VIRTUAL
END-IF