Here's more detail on my issue. This is how it's coded. I'm trying to move the DS to a 512 char flat file.

dcl-f workfile usage(*output) rename(workfile:rworkfile) usropn;

As you can see below, I tried both defining the DS internally and externally with no luck.

dcl-ds ds_workfile extname('CSC530ED') qualified end-ds;

//dcl-ds ds_workfile len(512);

//dstyp char(1);

//dssku zoned(9:0);

//dsiamt zoned(13:0);

//dsvnd zoned(6:0);

//dsvpn char(15);

//dvamt zoned(13:0);

//dssvn zoned(6:0);

//dssty char(15);

//dssamt zoned(13:0);

//dsucd char(1);

//dsupc zoned(18:0);

//dsuamt zoned(13:0);

//dsccod char(3);

//dsprtp char(3);

//dsamt zoned(13:3);

//end-ds;

Here's where I'm trying to populate the DS with the necessary fields and write the WORKFILE record using the DS.

// load the EVN660P file from the CSC530P records

setll s1evnt csc530p;

reade s1evnt csc530p;

dow not %eof(csc530p);

reset rworkfile;

reset ds_workfile;

// load WORKFILE record based on price change type

select;

when sctyp = 'I'; // SKU level price change

dssku = scsku;

dsiamt = sciamt;

dsccod = sccod;

dsprtp = sccptp;

dsamt = scprice;

write rworkfile ds_workfile;

when sctyp = 'S'; // style level price change

dssty = scstyle;

dssamt = scsamt;

dsccod = sccod;

dsprtp = sccptp;

dsamt = scprice;

write rworkfile ds_workfile;

endsl;

reade s1evnt csc530p;

enddo;

It will not compile, the error says a data structure is not allowed for the operation.

I believe WRITE requires a DS defined using LIKEREC. 

LikeRec(rworkfile:*output) 

Ringer 

If the output file is a flat file (no field definitions) then try specifying the length on the file definition:

dcl-f workfile(512) usage(*output) rename(workfile:rworkfile) usropn;