RE: RPG and SQL Compilers

 >> Anything outside of the package I will run through CVTRPGSRC or write
from scratch in RPGIV.

Oh if only people would!  Most seem convinced that it won't work if they
mix the two.



 >> But if you are only making a couple of simple changes, like adding or
subtracting one additional field to determine on hand, I fail to see how
the benefits of RPGIV will outweigh the inability to do a source compare
when upgrade time comes.



Couple of points.



First - what is to prevent you from converting the updated version from the
vendor and _then_ doing the compare?  Alternatively do the compare between
the old and new RPG III sources to identify the changes and then apply them
to the RPG IV version.  Besides, if you really are making only one or two
changes, how much do you need the compare anyway?



Second _finding_ the place where you need to make the change and
understanding what the code is doing will be a whole lot easier in RPG IV
format.



Third - it may start as one or two simple changes but rarely stays that
way.



 >> I think the bigger incentive would be as one person earlier suggested.
You either obsolete the RPGIII compiler or price it extra to get the
vendors to change.



That was me - and trust me I've told them just that.  When they re-package
the tools and compilers as they are going to do (probably) the release
after V5R1, I believe they should _only_ include the new ILE compilers in
the package.  If you want the "old stuff" you buy it separately.  I don't
think that it should be a high figure - but people should realize that
there is a cost involved.



It really is stupid that the vendors don't switch.  JDE in particular -
many of their users _have_ to convert some of the programs to RPG IV
because they are too damn big to compile with RPG III the minute you make
even a simple change to them.






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