RE: "extract" command enhancement(subfiles and BIFs)

>John,
>>Does your shop have iron clad type standards ...<

>As I am a consultant, "your shop" is whichever client I happen to be at.  I
have
>rarely seen subfile standards, never iron clad.

>When I am allowed to create a new application from scratch (as opposed to
>modifying an existing app), assuming the shop has no standards, I use my
own
>template source.  This occurrence is rare enough, though, that I still need
to
>shake and bake; I guess next time I should document the heck out of what I
do
>when starting from a template, eh?
>- Dan Bale


Dan

You bring up a REAL good point.  (BTW, I'm also a Consultant for more than
10 years,  For small Mom&Pop type shops to Fortune 500's with 100 people).

Standards,   Education,   Raising the Bar.   Templates,   New Code/Old Code.

If you are a consultant,   I'm sorry to say,  but you should take on the
responsiblity that that implies.   You are the Expert.   You should LEAD the
way to better 
systems.   (Don't come back with exceptions please about "They hire me to do
yada, yada, yada,   Thats it"   I don't get paid for .......  If you feel
this way, 
delete this,  this post is not for you)

If the shop you consult at doesn't have standards,    Suggest/Create them
!!!.     If the don't have a Field Reference,   Create one 
Don't say  "Hey I don't give a rip,   It's their shop,  If they don't have
any pride,   I can sink.... I mean work at that level."

Professionalism.    If they hard code  error messages on the screen,   Lead
them to the land of Message Files and Error Message Subfiles.

On the self serving front,  You will be sowing the seeds of your own
reputation.   They will more likely re-up your contract if they think that
you 
are being professional and looking out for their best interest.  Not just
putting in the hours being a grunt coder.

Build/promote a PROTOSRC type of source file.   If you have skeletons or
templates,  As you said Dan,  Document the #$% out of them,
put them in the PROTOSRC,  and let people know they are there.    YOU will
get the credit for years to come from leading the way.
It's to your best interest.  

We are the ones who will have to slowly but surely inject new things into
the shops we consult for.   
Show them RPGIV if they don't have it.   Ask/plead/  SELL them on the idea
that MODULAR CODE IS GOOD FOR YOU !. 

If they don't have a Standards book,  start building one.  Even if it's
during stolen minutes.   

The shop I consult at has one(NOW THEY DO),  and it's the first thing that
is handed out to new consultants.  Saying
Here's our naming conventions,  here's our libraries,   here' our........

Here's our PROTOSRC that EVERYONE starts with for a new program.
Heres our STANDARD SUBFILE PROGRAM.

etc etc etc.

Do you want to be the Gal/Guy  who people say,   Man,  Great stuff,   I Use
all her/his examples
they work great !!    

Or the ones that they say,   OH OH,  Another Piece of @#$% from so and so ?
Your name will get around one way or another. 

Ask your self this,   Would you mind if they hung up your last program on
the bulletin board
in the break room for everyone to look at or not???

Well I think you get the idea. 
Lead,   Follow,  or Get out of the @#$% Way !!!!

John Carr








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