Re: Rép. : Packed vs Zoned (was: Classic Traps -- I need your input!)

Nor do I. We regularly use packed decimal for numeric parameters. It's
really only a problem if you try to call the program from a command line
(but we never do that; all parameters are passed in from other programs or
commands).

On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 1:45 PM, Lim Hock-Chai <
Lim.Hock-Chai@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

This global rule that you have in your shop sounds a bit extreme for me.
I wonder how other handle this? (May be prototype is the answer).

My shop does not any have rule on parameter. However, I've heard quite a
few programmers here saying to always use character field as parameter
(redefine it and map it if you have to). I do not agree with it :).



-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Denis Robitaille
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 1:36 PM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: Rép. : Classic Traps -- I need your input!

We have no field defined as packed in our DDS. All are defined as zone.

For internal variable, we uses an external DS like this:
d e ds extname(myfile) prefix(d_)
based(d1)

And all program variables are define:
d p_var s like(d_var)

And, as a shop rule, we do not use database field as parameters. We will
define a variable for that:

p_var = var;
callp pgm(p_var);

So the fields from a file are used only for input/output for that file.
For all other purposes, we use variable with standerdize prefix.

"Lim Hock-Chai" <Lim.Hock-Chai@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 2008-03-31 14:13

Yes. That is what I though you are referring to "A zoned field in a file
(In your op, you say a variable. I just want to make sure you mean a field
in the file)". The reason I ask is because your prescription for this
problem is to strictly use zoned (avoid packed variable/field).
Are you saying that all numeric fields in all of your files are defined
as zoned? And your always use the extname for all files declared in the RPG
programs to force all those fields to remain zoned?



-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Denis Robitaille
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 12:57 PM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: Rép. : Classic Traps -- I need your input!

Try it. You'll see. In fact, it can get even more confusing.

Here is more details.

You have an externally define file
Fmyfile if e k disk

It has a variable called : pakednbr 5p 0

you compile the program and look at the compile listing, you will see
pakednbr define as 5p 0

Now add the following lines to the program
D datastr ds
D pakednbr

recompile the program. Look at the compile listing and voila, the internal
definition of pakednbr has gone from packed to zoned. This causes no problem
except if you use the variable has a parameter somewhere.

to make thing even worst, you get the same situation if pakednbr was
define zoned in the DDS of the file. (packed inside the program except if
part of a data structure)

I can not be sure why it is so, but it is so and it burned me in the past.

"Lim Hock-Chai" <Lim.Hock-Chai@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 2008-03-31 10:29

Denis:
I'm not sure why making a variable become part of the data structure would
change its attribute from packed to zoned.

-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Denis Robitaille
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 7:35 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: Rép. : Classic Traps -- I need your input!

<clip>
2. AN RPG programs works fine, you decide to make a variable that is part
of the parameters list part of a data structure. The variable was defined as
packed. After being added to the array, it is now zoned!!
Your programs start to bomb because it receives bad input. To avoid it,
what we did here is to avoied packed variable all together. The performance
impact, if any, is negligeible.
</clip>
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