Sources for External Data Structures

Greetings,

I would like to drum up some support for a change in how the RPG
(III/IV/ILE) compilers handle external data structure definitions.
Currently, you can only effectively reference a *PF or *LF. If you
reference a *PRTF it will compile but tell you:
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
:                               Additional Message
Information                        :
:                                                                               
:   :
:  Message ID . . . . . . : RNF3530       Severity . . . . . . . :
00              :
:  Message type . . . . . :
Diagnostic                                                 :
:                                                                               
:  
:
:  Message . . . . :   Data structure has no valid
subfields.                      :
:  Cause . . . . . :   The data structure does not have any valid
subfields.       :
:    Since a length has been specified for the data structure, the
definition is   :
:   
accepted.                                                                    
:
:  Recovery  . . . :   Specify valid subfields for the data structure.
Compile     :
:   
again.                                                                       
:
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
and it will not bring any field definitions (even if your are
referencing them. Ex. INZ) into the program.

>The EXTNAME keyword is used to specify the name of the file which contains the 
>field descriptions used as the subfield description for the data structure 
>being defined.
The v3r7 CD-ROM does not mention any restrictions on this for ILE.
 
Please let IBM (Hans are you still following the list?) know that RPG
<SHOULD> accept any type of externally described file and pull in the
field definitions. I know this is not a major item but is in the same
line as being to rename fields for an *OUTPUT only file. It would make
some things much easier or clearer.

TIA 

Roger Vicker, CCP

-- 
*** Vicker Programming and Service *** Have bits will byte ***
Lynch's Law: When the going gets tough, everybody leaves.

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