Re: Convert from free to fixed

Scott

Allow me to add another benefit of trying what is new in a release. This goes back to v5r2, which I consider a pretty significant watershed in the RPG language. Complex data structures, using a data structure in the result of an I/O operation, *KEY and *INPUT, etc., in defining externally-described data areas and the things that use that, assignment operators like += (maybe along the cute line but useful). V5R1 had the various date/time functions that, to me, so simplified that work - one statement in place of at least 3, at times.

So I think that it behooves one to learn the new things, to improve productivity by writing less code to do the same work, if nothing else.

Vern

On 9/28/2010 1:34 PM, Scott Klement wrote:

-snip-
But I _am_ suggesting that programmers learn these new features, and try
to use them when they are applicable. Try to gain value from the new
features, as they were implemented for a reason. Believe me, if you try
to get a new feature implemented in the RPG compiler, it's not done
lightly. It requires some serious convincing, and a lot of review by a
whole bunch of people before anything is ever done.

So when a new feature is added, they almost always offer some sort of
value. You should learn this value, and use it in _new_ code, or to
meet business requirements that involve _updating_ existing code.

-snip-