Didn't you mean 

!if hpcierr = 0 then
___________________________________________________________________
Keven Miller   mailto:kevenm@exegesys.com   http://www.exegesys.com

!setvar hpcierr 0
!stream myjob
!if hpcierr <> 0
!  setvar myjob_complete false
!  while not myjob_complete
!    tell !hplastjob
!    if hpcierr = 1619
!      setvar myjob_complete true
!    else
!      pause 30
!      setvar hpcierr 0
!    endif
!  endwhile
!else
!#  handle the error
!endif

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *