Developer for System z Enterprise COBOL for z/OS, Version 4.1, Language Reference
Requirements for a method procedure division
When using a method procedure division:
You can use the EXIT METHOD statement or the GOBACK statement to return control to
the invoking method or program. An implicit EXIT METHOD statement is generated as the
last statement of every method procedure division.
You can use the STOP RUN statement (which terminates the run unit) in a method.
You can use the RETURN-CODE special register within a method procedure division to
access return codes from subprograms that are called with the CALL statement, but the
RETURN-CODE value is not returned to the invoker of the current method. Use the procedure
division RETURNING data name to return a value to the invoker of the current method. For
details, see the discussion of RETURNING data-name-2 under The procedure division header.
You cannot specify the following statements or clauses in a method procedure
division: