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

["Joe Teff" <jteff19@xxxxxxx>]

>>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.

> So what you're saying is even if 90% of the programmers use BIF's
> less than (say) 10%  will understand/use  API's ?
> (Of the programming public at large not as represented by this list)
> I would agree with that.   If Toronto has time to do other things,
>I think that Native support for IFS affinity should be a priority.

That wasn't my point, but that is probably pretty close. If you take away
the most common APIs like QCMDEXC, then it probably is close. I was
really taking a shot at the API documentation. Even when I want to use
one, the documentation rarely helps. It's only after I've finally gotten it
to work that I can even relate the text to the function. I was recently
struggling with the APIs for working with a validation list. The manuals
were no help at all. I was pointed to the Ignite/400 site where they had
some examples. That got me over the hump.

I also agree that working with files in the IFS will become commonplace
and having support for that in RPG is a high priority. I just don't see
that having a BIF is the only solution. APIs can be good solution as
long as we can figure out out to use them. The examples in the manuals
have to include RPG and not just C.

Another message in this thread pointed out the lack of code sharing for
RPG. While this is true, another problem is finding what is there. I've been
to the Ingnite/400 site before, I just didn't think about it when struggling
with validation lists. There are many sites that offer code today. Keeping
track of what's where is difficult. Now when I figure out how to clone
myself I'll tackle that problem :)

Joe Teff

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