Problem:

When executing a write on one specific table MSSQL raises an error "Invalid character value for cast specification" and the program halts with file status 9D,00

Resolution:

The error occurs when the data does not match the database definition for that column.  Specifically in this case the problem was due to a file that contained multiple record formats.  

To correctly handle multiple record formats add the WHEN directive to the FD to cause the XFD to be generated in a way that the database will recognize multiple record formats.  For example, the following file definition has three distinct record formats each identified by a separate WHEN directive:

       FD  SAMPLEFILE.

      $XFD WHEN REC-01-TYPE<5

       01  REC-01.

           03  REC-01-KEY       PIC 9(10).

           03  REC-01-TYPE      PIC 9.

           03  REC-01-DATA-01   PIC 9(5).

           03  REC-01-DATA-02   PIC X(45).

      $XFD WHEN REC-01-TYPE=5

       01  REC-02.

           03  REC-02-KEY       PIC 9(10).

           03  REC-02-TYPE      PIC 9.

           03  REC-02-DATA-01   PIC 9(5).

           03  REC-02-DATA-02   PIC X(2).

           03  REC-02-DATA-03   PIC 9(3).

           03  REC-02-DATA-04   PIC X(40).

      $XFD WHEN REC-01-TYPE=OTHER

       01  REC-03.

           03  REC-03-KEY       PIC 9(10).

           03  REC-03-TYPE      PIC 9.

           03  REC-03-DATA      PIC X(50).

In this example when REC-01-TYPE is 0,1, 2, 3, or 4 the first record layout applies, when it is 5 the second record layout applies, and for all other values the third record layout applies.

Refer to Section 5.3.3.13  of the AcuCOBOL-GT User's Guide for complete information on the WHEN directive.