RE: MIDRANGE-L Digest V1 #720

["Jeffrey M. Silberberg" <silbrbrg@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 21 Oct 1997, James Turnbull wrote:

> you document the code.  I am endlessly finding some data area that
> contains a seemingly meaningless string of characters and no reference
> in the customer's doco as to what the data area controls or contains.
> 
> 
> James Turnbull
> 
> AS/Tech Consulting
> 

        For, just this reason it is a good idea to use DDS-PF to define 
the data area. This gives you a clean overlay and Field Definition. Just 
define an external data structure in your code, and the data area can 
then be read into and updated from the DS. No Guessing.  Be sure to set
the PF to no members when you create to prevent accidently reading or
writtting to it. Although, it makes a good transaction log with before and
after images if you need them for a audit trail.

        Jeff Silberberg 
        CompuDesigns, Inc.
+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to "MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com".
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MAJORDOMO@midrange.com
|    and specify 'unsubscribe MIDRANGE-L' in the body of your message.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---