Chris,
Here is the little class in question.
class-id consoleApplication24.Prog2b public.
working-storage section.
01 myobj1 type consoleApplication24.Prog2b
value new type consoleApplication24.Prog2b public.
01 myarg type short.
procedure division.
invoke myobj1::getid returning myarg. <<----gets message COBCH0837S
display "myid is - " & myarg.
goback.
method-id getid public.
local-storage section.
linkage section.
01 myid type short.
procedure division returning myid.
compute myid = function random().
goback.
end method.
end class.