Re:Character String help

[Buck Calabro <mcalabro@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>I have a character field used to identify our parts.  The majority of
>these values are numeric in value.  I'm wondering how we can auto-assign
>the "next number" the user should use when adding a new part.

Kevin,
        One means is to keep a data area holding the "last used number"
In your RPG program:

C           *NAMVAR   DEFN           CAL#    70 
C* Next call number                       
C           *LOCK     IN   CAL#           
C                     ADD  1         CAL# 
C                     OUT  CAL#           

This is somewhat primitive, but it gets the job done for an "all numeric"
key.  Beware of rolling the key from 9999999 to 0!

Another way is to SETGT, READP and increment that key to give you
an "available" slot.

For a character key it gets a bit more complicated; I'd CALL an 
external program to implement the algorithm for that.  That algorithm
will depend entirely upon your business' rules for assigning the
letters within the key.

Another way is to have a file of "available" keys.  Each time you
add one to your "live" file, delete it from the "available" pool, and
vice versa

hth
Buck Calabro
Commsoft

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