Re: SYSOUT vs. QPRINT for debug-type information...

Not trying to be contrary, but have you tried using the integrated 
debugger in WDSc?

I never use DISPLAY statements or printer files for obtaining debug type 
information anymore--I find it so much more flexible and powerful to use 
the debugger.  I can stop at any line with one or two click of the mouse. 
I can display any elementary item value by simply hovering the mouse 
pointer of the variable name.  You can also set up a monitor of an 
elementary or group item and watch the value change as I step through the 
program or run to any number of breakpoints.

I prefer using the debugger, because I then have nothing to change once 
I'm ready to move a program to production.  i.e., I've tested the exact 
code that will go into production without any changes.  If I use DISPLAY 
statements or printer files for debugging information, I have to modify 
the code before promoting the code.

These features can also be emulated from the green screen--albeit they are 
not as intuitive.  Someone in Rochester also set up a graphical interface 
to the standard system debugger--I've tried it but I prefer the integrated 
debugger in WDSc since I'm always in that environment.  If you're shying 
away from WDSc, then try the graphical interface to the system debugger. 
Either way--I think once you've tried them, you'll never want to go back.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Michael Quigley
AS/400 Programming Section
The Way International
www.TheWay.org

cobol400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote on 12/13/2006 01:00:03 PM:

date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 06:18:09 -0500
from: "Michael Rosinger" <mrosinger@xxxxxxxxx>
subject: [COBOL400-L] SYSOUT vs. QPRINT for debug-type information...

List,

Another ILE/COBOL newbie question. I was running a test program where I 

was 

issuing a lot of DISPLAY UPON SYSOUT messages for debug purposes. The 

job 

was cancelled by the system because "the size of the message queue for 

job 

xxx reached the maximum size". I see from the output that in addition to 

the 

lines I was interested in seeing there were lots of system-generated 

stuff 

that I did not care about.

In the mainframe world, we are used to using a lot of DISPLAY UPON 

SYSLST 

(if need be) and they just get routed to a different spooled entry which 

is 

separate from any of the other reports the program may generate. It's 
readily accessible if you happen to need it to verify a problem and 

easily 

discarded if you don't.

So, in the iSeries world, what is the "acceptable" way to create printed 

output for debug and tracking purposes? Coding a DISPLAY UPON SYSOUT is, 

of 

course, easier than defining and writing to a print file, but it's not a 

big 

deal if that is what must be done.

Your suggestions please? TIA

-- 
Regards,

Michael Rosinger
Systems Programmer / DBA
Computer Credit, Inc.
640 West Fourth Street
Winston-Salem, NC  27101
336-761-1524
m rosinger at cciws dot com