RE: remove blanks

Hi Birgitta, Hi Jon,

While I agree with both of you, I can think of 2 scenarios for writing code
in RPG2 and a half:
1. For new code: If one is writing software that is intended to be downward
compatible e.g.: to run on a S/38 box.
2. For old code: To maintain the programming standard (however much one
might dislike it) of the software you are maintaining. But then at least try
make change using 'if' and not using left indicators where possible. If one
has to maintain a statement that has 7 left ind's, and then it is repeated 8
times in a program (yes, I have those where I am working), etc...

If the program is written in free, then maintain using free.
If RPGIII, then maintain using RPGIII or RPGIV (if possible).

Regards

Kit

message: 3
date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:12:25 +0200
from: "BirgittaHauser" <Hauser@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: AW: remove blanks

Hi,

I noticed that after I posted - I still find it hard to believe that

anyone is writing new code in RPG III.

But there are a lot!
Even worse are those, who converted the RPGII/RPGIII code to RPGIV but
write
new code by using RPGII/RPGIII syntax. Currently I'm working on a
software
that was written in the late 90ties. Not a single EVAL nor a
built-in-function can be found, but a lot of indicators (*IN01 - *IN99)
lefthand of the code and the sources aren't documented at all.
Not even Subfiles are used! The syntax used is older than I ever
learned it.

(and I started with RPGIII in the early 90ties).

... The worst is, the programmer refuses to learn or to use new
features:
"I wrote programs in this way since 30 years and it works!"
(with a lot of failures that could have been avoided when RPGIV
techniques
would have been used!)

And an other comment: "Copying is faster than trying something new!!!"

Mit freundlichen Gr??en / Best regards

Birgitta Hauser

Von: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-
bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] Im
Auftrag von Jon Paris
Gesendet: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 14:52
An: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Betreff: RE: remove blanks


>> Several have answered with ILE IV solutions - he is working in RPG
III

I noticed that after I posted - I still find it hard to believe that
anyone
is writing new code in RPG III.

What is particularly odd is that this appears to be an outsourcing
situation. Why on earth would you outsource (to people who apparently
don't
know the language) and have the new code written in a language obsolete
for
12 years. Sigh....

See you at Summit Vern.

Jon Paris
Partner400

www.Partner400.com