RE: Articles or links to build a case on why to improve your rpg-db2 database.

Sort of like back in my old mainframe days. All files had some free space on the end for fields to be added later.

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Denis Robitaille
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9:18 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Articles or links to build a case on why to improve your rpg-db2 database.

Several years ago I had to solve a similar problem.

How to be able to add field to a file without having to recompile all programs that access it and still keeping level check.

I think that my solution might be applicable to you.

In the file, I added a field at the end (this is the only time I have to recompile all programs). It is a *CHAR file of a big length (let say 500).

I also have define a DS (Data structure) that I can /copy in RPG programs that define the content of this extention field.

So, when I need a new field (whatever the type), I change the DS and that's it.

Naturally, all programs that need access to the new field are recompiled. All other are untouched and continue working.

If I ever uses all the space available, I must then modify the file which will force a recompile. But it may take a while before I reach that point.

The main draw back is that the filed defined in the DS can not be used as key.


Denis Robitaille
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-----Message d'origine-----
De : MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] De la part de JRusling@xxxxxxxxxxx
Envoyé : 28 février 2017 09:28
À : midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Objet : RE: Articles or links to build a case on why to improve your rpg-db2 database.

Yes, this is suitable, in some some cases -- just so the extra fields, when used, get documented that they are being used & for what purpose. -:-)

One way to reduce the extension files is to create the first extension

with a

selection of unassigned fields-- several numeric, some alpha, some

date--

so you don't need to add multiple extensions to a single data base

file...

Paul E Musselman
PaulMmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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