Re: Legacy code. Was:Dates. (Becoming "cycle"...)

  <<snip>>
True, but "the cycle" is used in many prevalent packages and even MORE
legacy code.  Besides, I get a kick out of someone asking me "where in
the HECK does this thing actually READ anything?"!!
<<snip>>
here is no better, faster way to write reliable and fast update
programs, especially if you have a bunch of files to update.  Matching
records solves another whole subset of common programming tasks
including the summing of group totals.  In any event, the cycle works
and cycle programs are written every day.  *grin* There is nothing
more fun then a neat 16 line program that does it all.
<<snip>>

  OK, OK. I can see that there are some real cycle supporters out
  there, but I have to say - perhaps because I learnt what I know of
  the cycle on the job, fixing other people's code  - that it can be a
  real pain in the proverbial. Stuff that just has an input primary
  and then reads straight through is cool, but anything else, and I
  start giving guys like Dean a big kick by saying "where in the HECK
  does this thing actually READ <whatever it happens to be>..?"

  Besides (he says, offering the guillotine pull to all and sundry) if
  you want to match and join records, etc., why not embed an SQL, and
  then just fetch? It's still all in one program - no OPNQRYF
  preparation, etc. - and it's faintly readable even to heathens who
  don't use the /400...

  If it makes you feel any better, though, I start a new job on
  Monday, and I have this sense of foreboding that the cycle is going
  to be in quite common use on the system we're updating... (Cries
  maniacally on shrink's shoulder)


  Tim Lennon.
  Tim.Lennon@ThomasMiller.com
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