The following example shows how you can perform a simple check of the file status key after opening a file.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID.  SIMCHK.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.

    SELECT MASTERFILE ASSIGN TO AS-MASTERA
           FILE STATUS IS MASTER-CHECK-KEY
    . . .
DATA DIVISION.
. . .
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

01  MASTER-CHECK-KEY       PIC X(2).
. . .

PROCEDURE DIVISION.

    OPEN INPUT MASTERFILE
    IF  MASTER-CHECK-KEY NOT = "00"
        DISPLAY "Nonzero file status returned from OPEN " MASTER-CHECK-KEY
    . . .