RE: IFS in RPG

I understand why people would like to see stream files on F specs and have
RPG handle them in ways that mimic the way it handles database files.  Maybe
because I came to RPG after training in other languages, I still find the F
(and other specs) foreign after nearly ten years.  Don't get me wrong, I
love how easy I/O is with database files.

This raises the questions:  Is a stream file an OS400 file object?  How easy
is it to handle F spec references to things that aren't "files?"  I'm more
curious than anything else.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Dow [mailto:maillist@dowsoftware.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 3:08 PM
> To: rpg400-l@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: IFS in RPG
>
>
> Hey, IBM is adding new keywords all the time!  How many have
> they added in
> the last 5 years?  The latest that I know of EXTMBR() in V5R1.
>
> I kind of like sticking with the F-spec.  That's one of the
> first places I
> go in an unfamiliar program to see what it's doing.
>
> Peter Dow
> Dow Software Services, Inc.
> 909 793-9050 voice
> 909 522-3214 cellular
> 909 793-4480 fax
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joel Fritz" <JFritz@sharperimage.com>
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 2:29 PM
> Subject: RE: IFS in RPG
>
>
> > Hah.  You're introducing new keywords; that's not fair. <g>
>  AFAIK you
> can't
> > use string variables as record format names or file names
> for database
> files
> > without a select statement that translates.
> >
> > I don't see much value in being able to have a stream file
> name on an F
> > spec.  I may be short sighted. <g>  If everyone writes different
> procedures
> > to do the things that the Unix Type file APIs do, it just
> means we're
> > becoming like C programmers who ignore library functions.
> The only thing
> > I'd like to see would be bifs or standard prototypes for
> copying.  There's
> > also opportunity for people to do the sort of thing David
> Morris is doing
> > with utilities.  I've never understood why there are so few utility
> > libraries available for RPG.  Might even be possible to sell them.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This is the RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries (RPG400-L)
> mailing list
> To post a message email: RPG400-L@midrange.com
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
> visit: http://lists.midrange.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/rpg400-l
> or email: RPG400-L-request@midrange.com
> Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives
> at http://archive.midrange.com/rpg400-l.
>
NOTICE:
All e-mail sent to or from this e-mail address will be received or otherwise
recorded by The Sharper Image corporate e-mail system and is subject to
archival, monitoring, review by and/or disclosure to Sharper Image security
and other management. This message is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient, dissemination of this communication
is prohibited.