RE: RPG IV release levels and complexity

Hi Scott,

Here's a posting from another list that typifies why /FREE can be ugly (as
can fixed-format). If this is more "readable" I need my glasses. Granted
this is just one example and the embedded SQL in RPG is ugly in general (not
as bad as it is in other languages).

===================

 /free
    myHostVariable = 'Select * from myLib/myFile' ;
 /end-free
c/exec sql
c+  declare myCursor Cursor
c+         for myPreparedStatement
c/end-exec
c/exec sql
c+  prepare myPreparedStatement
c+       from :myHostVariable
c/end-exec
c/exec sql
c+  open myCursor
c/end-exec
c/exec sql
c+  fetch next from myCursor into :masterDS
c/end-exec
 /free
     dow sqlStt <> '00000' ;
        // do stuff
 /end-free
c/exec sql
c+    fetch next from myCursor into :masterDS
c/end-exec
 /free
      enddo ;
 /end-free
c/exec sql
c+  close myCursor
c/end-exec
===================


Bob Cozzi
Cozzi Consulting
www.rpgiv.com


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Scott Klement
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:48 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: Re: RPG IV release levels and complexity


> So, I'd have to say that we haven't experienced the type of problems you
> have described.  In fact, I'm all for making enhancements to the language.
> (What I don't want to see are enhancements that are only available if you
> use /free. I don't see enough return on investment to make the leap to
/free
> yet and I resent seeing good language enhancements that we would use but
> can't because of the time involved in retraining 20 programmers for
minimal
> gain).


There are two things that /FREE buys you.

   1) Extra space on each record for your statements.  (This has made a
         HUUUUGE difference in readability for me)
   2) The ability to indent your statements.

As there is absolutely no "investment" that I can see, I don't see why
you're worried about it.   It takes what, 20 minutes to learn?

I haven't seen any new features that only work in /FREE.  Have there been
any?
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