Re[2]: what is unclear about 01 02 03 -Reply

To me it seems that the major problem with indicators is that their meaning is 
not self documenting. This is fine if the use of lefthand indicators is local to
the subroutine or function. If the value of the indicator is global in scope, 
you should assign the indicator value to a named variable.

C                       CHAIN   MSTFILE                      50
C                       eval              EOF_MSTFIL = *in50

JMO
Eric A DeLong
ericadelong@pmsc.com

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: RE: what is unclear about 01 02 03 -Reply 
Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INTERNET
Date:    5/5/98 8:43 AM


Peter
     
At 03:35 PM 5/5/1998 -0400, you wrote: 
>Buck writes:
>
>> I'm personally happy that there are RPGers among us who don't use 
>> left hand indicators, because it means that they're using more
>> meaningful names instead!
>
>I may not be an old hand, but I *do* use lefthand indicators under 
>some conditions, especially when handling the results from an 
>operation that signals it's success or failure via indicators. 
>The rationalization is that the silly thing was set a line or two 
>above and thus, it's meaning and significance is not mysterious. 
>Lefthand indicators just seem cleaner somehow...
     
Your point is well taken. The key part for me is that the test is close to 
the point of setting the indicator. I believe we all agree that maintaining 
RPGII stuff that set indicators in I-specs can be absolute murder.
     
I still welcome the move toward named indicators. And more freeform (like 
Buck's example-love it!). But one person's 'cleaner' is another person's 
'cryptic'. You pays your money and you takes your choice. In the end, we 
use our resective shop standards-oops, could be another thread unraveling 
here.
     
Cheers
     
Vernon Hamberg
Systems Software Programmer
Old Republic National Title Insurance Company 
400 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55401-2499
(612) 371-1111 x480
     
     
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