Re: Using a PC-based editor for RPG editting and compiling‏

On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 on this mailing list, Guillermo Andrades asked for:
"I think an RPG editor/CallCompiler in PC would be really useful for a lot
of RPG programmers."

I built a personal set of software tools which has some of the
functionality of WDSC without the bulk - and particularly the functionality
mentioned.

My Base Requirements when I started this:
1) More powerful, familiar editor. Interestingly, the editor I love, is
Kedit (www.kedit.com), a moved-to-the-PC version of the wonderful IBM
standard XEDIT.2) Retention of line numbers and dates in source files across
transfers both directions. I'm sure we've all done minor changes simply
FTPing source directly, but date retention is important for long-term
program maintenance.An additional requirement in my environment which I
implemented:3) Quickly drill down into CLs which call other CLs which call
further CLs (or RPG). a) single keystroke to edit the source of a called
program (CL or RPG) b) Ability to view data with a keystroke on a CL data
file. c) ability to view DDS with keystroke on an RPG file-spec name.4)
Compile from PC, return listing or EVENTS file from the AS/400.
Capabilities I received "for free" because of Kedit include better analysis
features such as program slicing capabilities.

Kedit has a robust macro language which I use to create on-the-fly FTP
scripts, launch them, and then edit the files generated by the AS/400 and
returned via FTP. I implemented PC macros as necessary to preserve line
numbers and dates in source data, then transfer back to my AS/400 to perform
the compile. There are several support programs on the AS/400 for this
processing. My philosophy was that I wanted a simple command from the PC
side, thus the macro calls have few parameters; generally a command to run,
and a file to retrieve from the 400 when the command has completed. FTP has
little in terms of status communication so any results have to be returned
as a file. My system does not have all the capabilities of WDSC in many
aspects, but it beats WDSC V6 hands down in others (some because Kedit is
better than LPEX, some because I know Kedit better).
I have found that the scripting capabilities in Kedit's macro language let
me more easily make bulk changes to source code. It is simple to take a
list of programs (perhaps creating the list from PDM's Find String option
25) and making mass change to the members (say replace job description A
with B) saving them to the AS/400 and compiling them.
I implemented quite a few other macros in my editor to manage simply
editting source as RPG and CL (with lines and dates). I wouldn't think
there are any PC editors which would be great at RPG. If anyone wants
additional info or sample code, I'd be happy to share.
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