Resolved and Unresolved Imports

An import and export each consist of a procedure or data type and a name. An unresolved import is one whose type and name do not yet match the type and name of an export. A resolved import is one whose type and name exactly match the type and name of an export.

Only the imports from the modules that are bound by copy go into the unresolved import list. During symbol resolution, the next unresolved import is used to search the ordered list of exports for a match. If an unresolved import exists after checking the set of ordered exports, the program object or service program is normally not created. However, if *UNRSLVREF is specified on the option parameter, a program object or service program with unresolved imports can be created. If such a program object or service program tries to use an unresolved import at runtime, error message MCH4439 is issued. That message says, “Attempt to use an import that was not resolved.”