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At 10:23 PM 9/18/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Vernon,
>
>(BTW, what's with the HTML field attributes?)

I think they're ignored in setting the format level ID. They're only used by Workstation Gateway, if present—no influence on 5250 screen format?

>
>In a message dated 97-09-18 18:41:24 EDT, you write:
>
><<snip>>
>> Agreed. John Sears is great, but this question is too broad for a simple
>> answer. Truth is, it depends. Like, where do you put the new fields, in
>> the middle or the end? Should be at the end, but we don't always do as we
>> should, do I? Then you <bold>might</bold> not have to recompile dependent
>> programs. If in the middle, you'll definitely need to recompile.
>
>True, but _MAN_ he can take you down to the bit level in two seconds, even if
>you only ask him how he's been :-)!


Amen to that


> Why should the fields go at the end?
> With the prevalence of query tools, I'd think that you'd want them grouped
>with like elements.

>> What if you change attributes of a field? Then you'll need to
>> recompile.
>
>Depends on what attributes you changed and whether or not you wanted your
>program to take advantage of them. Personally, from a "purist" standpoint, I
>disagree completely with the entire premise of the new CHGPF functions. If
>the customer WANTED an SQL database, they'd have bought a PC with SQL Server
>or some such and used the ALTER TABLE command -- but they didn't. They
>wanted an AS/400. Known for its reliability, ease of maintenance, and
>cross-application integrity. Having the ability to change files and fields
>"on the fly" takes the AS/400 two steps back to program-described files. If
>I wanted THAT, I'd have stayed with the S/36...

Actually, I was thinking of changing things like data type, length, precision, which can also be accomplished with CHGPF. And now that AS/400 has a fuller implementation of SQL, the ALTER TABLE gives us all this functionality, too.

I don't think that CHGPF was intended to give us "on the fly" capability as you've described it. If that were all, then I agree—we might as well use program-described files. What it gives me, though, is the same capability that's long been present in products like dBase. It simplifies the process of adding fields, as needed, to production tables, with less risk of losing the data. We still need to know exactly what we're doing, because there are pitfalls if we're not careful.

Eschew obfuscation


Vernon Hamberg
Systems Software Programmer
Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
400 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
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