Re: An odd thing

[Bob Larkin <blarkin@xxxxxx>]

Bruce,
Whoever would consider using the Cycle a fire-able offense is lacking in 
Judgement. Would you get fired over using a printer file? Externally defined 
printer files are the "Moder" way to handle output, but I will run my program 
defined print output against any Printer File in high volume situtations.

Also, If you believe the cycle HAD it's place, maybe you will also agree that 
presenting the written word in such outmoded fashion as bound paper is out of 
date and should be banned. Just imagine, all the things we would not need:
  Shelf-Files & Boxes, Binders, Book Care & Repair, Book Tape, Processing 
Supplies,
  Circulation Supplies, Bookends & Shelf Accessories, etc...  <VBG>
Bob

Bruce Guetzkow wrote:

> Paul:
>
> Just a few comments about the RPG cycle -
>
> 1)  It is unique to RPG.  No other language that I know of has this inherent 
>cycle.  One can "easily" (relatively) convert programs from COBOL to FORTRAN 
>to BASIC to (pick-your-favorite).  But to convert to/from RPG using the cycle 
>takes special knowledge (job security?) that only RPG programmers have.  Even 
>those of us that no longer use the cycle for processing, still use the cycle 
>for file opens/closes (at least some of us do), so there is still some 
>RPG-specific knowledge required, but far less, making RPG programs much more 
>convertible and understandable for non-RPG programmers.  (BTW...I don't use 
>indicators in the left-hand columns either, no matter how many of those old 
>programs still have my name on them!)
>
> 2)  The RPG cycle isn't the easiest thing to learn.  It took me a week to 
>figure out how to get the date and time on page 1 of a report using the cycle 
>and the 1P indicator.  I had to call a friend and he had to _tell_ me...I 
>never did figure it out on my own!
>
> 3)  Having said the above, I _do_ use the cycle for one-time programs that do 
>_not_ go into production.  Using the cycle for production programs here is 
>"verboten"...the quickest one-way-ticket to the unemployment line I know of!
>
> The cycle had its place, but I think that place is now in the past.
>
> Bruce Guetzkow
> Team Coordinator, Applications Development
> Highsmith Inc.
> W5527 Highway 106 P.O. Box 800
> Fort Atkinson, WI  53538-0800
> Tel (920) 563-9571  Fax (920) 563-7395
> EMAIL bguetzkow@highsmith.com
>
> ----------
> From:   PaulMmn[SMTP:PaulMmn@ix.netcom.com]
> Sent:   Tuesday, December 30, 1997 8:08 PM
> To:     MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject:        Re: An odd thing
>
> >on 12/30/97at 12:34 AM,  our friend PaulMmn <PaulMmn@ix.netcom.com> said:
> >
> >
> >>I -did- find that, after writing in RPG for quite a while, the logic in
> >>my COBOL programs seemed to resemble the RPG Cycle.   (:
> >
> >>--Paul E Musselman
> >
> >Paul, I am curious:  At that time it must have seemed like a "good
> >thing"(tm).  But, now in hindsight do you still feel it was a good thing?
> >
> >I ask because so often it seems like people make fun of using the RPG
> >cycle, and when they do it makes me feel just a little bit older again.
> >
> >----------------------------------------------------
> >Booth Martin
> >---------------------------------------------------
>
> A 'good thing?'  Yes.  The RPG cycle is still a nice, solid basic structure
> onto which you can hang the logic of your program.
>
> Writing in COBOL, I had to, of course, 'fill in' the pieces that IBM would
> normally handle.
>
> The Cycle follows a logical course:  Input, Processing, Output.  I've got a
> programming template for HIPO, that was evidently used to build programs
> using that basic logic:  Input, Processing, Output.
>
> Even now the RPG Cycle still does as good if not a better job of creating a
> simple report program than do-it-yourself logic.  Imagine-- using a Report
> Program Generator to generate report programs!  (:
>
> It's when you get into complicated processing logic that it may be better
> to 'roll your own' logic.  Then again...  why?  The Cycle always did a good
> job for complicated update programs.  Or am I living in the past?
>
> Why is it considered 'unmanly' to let RPG handle the logic for you?
>
> --Paul E Musselman
> PaulMmn@ix.netcom.com
>
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