Re: Returning from a procedure

Thanks Scott. I was hoping you would say that I just wanted to verify.

On the performance, what I am trying to do is hide the database behind
accessor functions. Many times only a few fields are actually needed from a
file and I thought putting those in a service program would cut down on the
number of programs that access these files and make database changes easier
and, hopefully, transparent. I am only chaining the record if it is not
already in memory. My thinking is that if a user is getting many fields
from the service program they will access them for the say key in order. I
am interested in your thoughts on this idea.

Thanks
Chris Bougher



                                                                                
                                                        
                      Scott Klement                                             
                                                        
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                      05/24/2004 11:39                                          
                                                        
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> When you return a value from a procedure are you returning the value or a
> reference to the value?

Assuming that you're referring to data returned by the "return" op-code,
rather than a parameter, you're ALWAYS returning a value.

Even if you return a pointer, you're returning the value of the pointer.
(Though, granted, the address stored in the pointer will likely be used as
a reference.)

> I have several procedures in a service program that are used to access
> different fields in a database and I want to make sure that if I return
the
> database field that it wont change if the service program is used to get
a
> value from a different record. Also I thought about moving the value from
> the field to a work field in the procedure but I was worried the memory
> could be reclaimed.

It won't change, unless you're passing a pointer and basing a variable on
that pointer.  (Or doing something equally obvious, like using the same
variable to store the return value for subsequent calls.)

Your srvpgm may not perform well -- depending on the fields and how often
you're doing this -- but then, that may not be one of your goals.

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