Re: a file in a service program

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 rick.baird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> I would prefer to leave the file closed until i call one of the functions
> that use it, then i'd like it to remain open until the calling program is
> done.

before using it do:

       if not %open(MYFILE);
          open MYFILE;
       endif;

>
> Should I let the program open the file or open it myself?
>

For some reason (maybe just because the compiler generates a warning) it
is considered "wrong" to let the program open the file in a service
program.


> If I open it myself, will it close automagically when the current
> activation group ends?

No matter what you do, it's going to be closed when the activation group
ends. :)

However, I think it makes for better code if you close it manually instead
of letting the environment do it.   For this reason, I often code
procedures like:
        mysrvpgm_load() -- called when a program first references the
                             service program.
      mysrvpgm_unload() -- called when a program is done with the
                             service program.

Another option, if you want the files to open/close "automagically" (from
the callers point of view, anyway) would be to register a procedure to be
called when the activation group is ended which can close the files
nicely.