CPF1240: Job ended abnormally

What it means

When a batch job finishes, IBM i sends a completion message to the message queue named for the job. On SBMJOB this is the MSGQ parameter, which by default is the message queue of the user who submitted the job. If the job ended normally, the message is CPF1241. If it ended abnormally, the message is CPF1240.

CPF1240 is a completion message with severity 50. Its help text gives the date and time the job ended and the subsystem it ran in, such as QBATCH, and points you to the job log. That's all it knows. The actual failure happened inside the job, so the cause is in that job's log, along with the end code in CPF1164.

Common causes

• A program in the job hit an error that wasn't monitored, leading to a function check (CPF9999) and the job ending.
• An inquiry message in the job, such as CPA0701, was answered with C or D. That cancels the program and usually ends the job.
• The job was ended from outside, for example by an operator using ENDJOB, or because its subsystem or the system ended.

How to find the problem

1. Note the full job name from CPF1240. It's in the form number/user/name, such as 123456/PAYUSER/PAYRUN01.
2. Open that job's log with WRKJOB JOB(123456/PAYUSER/PAYRUN01) and option 4 to see its spooled files, then display QPJOBLOG. If the job log is pending, DSPJOBLOG JOB(123456/PAYUSER/PAYRUN01) can show it.
3. In the job log, find the first escape message or CPF9999 function check. That's usually the real error. CPF1164 at the bottom gives the end code.
4. If the job log is missing or too short, look in QHST with DSPLOG LOG(QHST) JOB(123456/PAYUSER/PAYRUN01), and in QSYSOPR for inquiry messages the job sent.

How to fix it

• Fix the error found in the job log and resubmit the job.
• Make sure batch jobs keep a useful job log. A job description with LOG(4 00 *SECLVL) and LOGCLPGM(*YES) records the CL commands and full message text.
• Add MONMSG handling in CL programs for errors you expect, so they're handled cleanly instead of ending the job.
• If operators are ending jobs, agree a procedure so jobs are ended in a controlled way when possible.

DSPMSGD MSGID(CPF1240) MSGF(QSYS/QCPFMSG)

Technical reviewer: Albert Joseph, WND Software.

Last reviewed 2026-10-18 by the WND Software team. Written in our own words. For the full reference, check IBM’s documentation for your IBM i release.