Re:Named Indicators...

["Scott Klement" <infosys@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marc,

Your solution is basing F3 on indicator 03, and F5 on indicator
05.  The original poster was looking for a way to base on KC and
KE, instead of 03 and 05.

Now -- to EVERYONE on the list:

Personally (and this is my opinion, many people have already told
me I was nuts)  I prefer to see *INKC or *INKE used instead of
*IN03/*IN05, and I also prefer to see *INKC over a "named indicator".

When I'm trying to figure out someone's code and I see this line:
C                   if        *IN03 = *On

I now have to search the source code to see what *IN03 is.   Since
its actually defined in the DDS, I won't find it.   I'll then search
the DDS, and I'll find that *IN03 is actually F3.

When I see:
C                   if        F3 = *On

I, again, now have to stop my reading of the source, search to see
what F3 is.  Find out that its based on *IN03 in the D-specs.
Now I have to search for BOTH F3 and *IN03 throughout the RPG code
to find out that its not defined.   Now I have to search all external
descriptions for F3, plus I have to search the DDS for 03.  Finally
I determine what it is.

When I see the line:
C                   if        *INKC = *On

I now know EXACTLY that this line does without having to search the
code at all.

People use "named indicators" because they don't think that *IN03
is "self-explanatory".   However, *INKC  *IS* self-explanatory, and
actually is MUCH MORE SO than a named indicator.

Sure, I can usually assume that "F3" is the same as *INKC.  But, I
know that as soon as I make that assumption, this will be the one
time that its not.

Sure, it doesn't take me more than a few seconds to determine what
a given indicator or named indicator does.   BUT, if I'm reading a
8000 line program, and I have to stop 20 different times to try to
figure out what a named indicator is, I'll get irritated.

Thats my 2 cents.

Scott Klement
Information Systems Manager
Klement's Sausage Co, Inc.



zylka.marc@westpoint-stevens.com wrote:
>
> Tim,
>
>   This is what I use and it works well.
>
> DIndicators       DS                  Based(IndicatorP)
> D  F3                        03     03
> D  F5                        05     05
> D  F12                       12     12
> D  Eof_SKU                   90     90
> DIndicatorP       S               *   Inz(%Addr(*In))
>
> Marc
>
>
> ____________________Reply Separator____________________
> Subject:    RE: Named Indicators...
> Author: <RPG400-L@midrange.com>
> Date:       8/17/99 9:36 AM
>
>   79 /*****************   Map the function Keys *****************/
>       80 d InKa            s               *   inz(%addr(*inka))
>       81 d  FunctionKey    ds                  Based(InKa)
>       82 D    F3                           N   Overlay(FunctionKey:3
>
>     Thanks, tim
+---
| This is the RPG/400 Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to RPG400-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to RPG400-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to RPG400-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---