Re: Re[2]: New Opcodes - %SETCELL

>     Strikes me as the sort of thing that belongs in a library function
>     (which could be implemented as a service program):
>
>       eval  mycell = GetCell("/test.xls":"r1c1")
>
>     IMHO, a BIF should reflect a need that a *large* proportion of RPG
>     programmers will have.  BIFs for every conceivabe esoteric application
>     don't seem workable to me.

This is a "catch-22". If updating spreadsheets were easier then it would
be a common occurrence and if it was a common occurrence then the
process to do it would become easier. I really don't have a problem with
an API in a service program rather than a BIF. In fact, the first thing I do
when I encounter an API I need to use, is to create an external procedure
(in a service program) only passing the parms that are neccessary. Once
that is done, I can then use my procedure like a BIF. The only real problem
I have with APIs is the documentation. There must be a special college
course that you take so that you can write impossible to understand text.
At least the documentation for BIFs is understandable.

Joe Teff


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