Re: Defining Fields

[Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxx]

 > Why does RPG IV create a packed field when I define a work field
 > LIKE a zoned field on the database file?

I'm assuming that your question relates to using LIKE on a D spec, since RPG has
always done this for *LIKE DEFN.

Most likely reason is that you have defined this file in the program and you are
under the mistaken impression that you are dealing with a signed field.  You are
not - check out the compiler listing and you will find that the field from the
file is handled as packed by RPG.  This is a hang over from RPG/400 which wanted
everything to be packed.

If you want to retain the signed characteristic you must include the definition
in a DS and then RPG IV will honor the original data type just as it would if
you used the file to define an externally described data structure.

I won't go into this further as you can find other references in the archives of
Midrange-L


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