RE: external *PRTF

["Bale, Dan" <DBale@xxxxxxxx>]

Define "lately".

I don't recall hearing that IBM has ever updated RLU since its CISC
beginnings.  

How do you not have to worry about page overflow in DDS?  You still have to
test for it in RPG.

Yes, you can center a field.  Just don't have any other field on the line
you want to center it on (otherwise it centers the field in between the two
fields on either side; what genius thought of that?)

Date, time, page# - already there in RPG

In short, RLU is a Really Lousy Utility.  I remember trying to prod IBM in
the early days to get them to do some very obvious enhancements, to no
avail.  If you want to see a good 5250-based print layout utility, check out
RDA (I think BugBusters owns it); much MUCH more intuitive than RLU.

- Dan Bale


> -----Original Message-----
> From: dbryant@banpharm.com [SMTP:dbryant@banpharm.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 8:47 AM
> To:   RPG400-L@midrange.com
> Subject:      Re: external *PRTF (was: RE: 'ILE RPG' or 'RPG IV' . What's
> the diffe     rence!!!)
> 
> Have you used RLU lately?  It is absolutely GREAT!!  O specs (ugly), might
> as
> well be an RPG-II program.
> With RLU, no worries about end positions, page overflow, line spacing or
> even
> knowing the field lengths. With RLU, you can quickly center a field. You
> can use
> the REFER option for RLU to get the field attributes for you. You can
> copy, move
> and delete fields with a quick function key sequence. Even highlight
> fields and
> underline (you can even use indicators to control the different functions
> available). But most of all I love the fact that RLU will output your
> TODAYS
> date and time, and the page number with NO RPG coding at all.   Also you
> can
> print a "Sample" prototype report to see how your report looks on paper.
> RLU is cool!!!
> 
> IMHO.....
> 
> 
> 
> 
> |--------+----------------------->
> |        |          "Jim"        |
> |        |          <jcannon@anti|
> |        |          gua.com>     |
> |        |                       |
> |        |          04/10/2000   |
> |        |          01:36 PM     |
> |        |          Please       |
> |        |          respond to   |
> |        |          RPG400-L     |
> |        |                       |
> |--------+----------------------->
>   >--------------------------------------------------------|
>   |                                                        |
>   |       To:     RPG400-L@midrange.com                    |
>   |       cc:     (bcc: Darlene H Bryant/Banpharm)         |
>   |       Subject:     Re: external *PRTF (was: RE: 'ILE   |
>   |       RPG' or 'RPG IV' . What's the diffe   rence!!!)  |
>   >--------------------------------------------------------|
> 
> 
> very well said! I agree!
> 
> From:               "Bale, Dan" <DBale@lear.com>
> To:                 "'RPG400-L@midrange.com'" <RPG400-L@midrange.com>
> Subject:            external *PRTF (was: RE: 'ILE RPG' or 'RPG IV' .
> What's the
> diffe
>      rence!!!)
> Date sent:          Mon, 10 Apr 2000 10:35:02 -0400
> Send reply to:      RPG400-L@midrange.com
> 
> Really don't mean to start a holy war here <g>, but...  IMNSHO:
> 
> External printer files - BLEAAHHH!  If it's used in only one program,
> which
> is the case for 99.95% of all printer files I've ever come across, then
> keep
> it in the RPG source!
> 
> Granted, had IBM's braindead RLU been something closer to what RDA (by
> BugBusters???) is, then I might have formed a different opinion ten years
> ago.  Then again, since RDA allows you to choose between creating printer
> DDS specs or RPG O-specs, who knows?  There's really not a whole lot you
> can
> do in DDS that can't be done in RPG O-specs for _most_ printer output.
> 
> Honestly, though, it really isn't an "ease of design / development" issue
> with me.  For me, it's an "ease of maintenance" issue, since I do much
> more
> maintenance than new development.
> Internal: One source member. External: Two source members.
> Internal: No confusing where the printer file source is; it's right there.
> External: Ever been in a JBA shop? 'nuf said.
> Internal: One edit session, one compile.  External: Two edit sessions, two
> compiles.
> Internal: When RPG compile error occurs, you just need to look for errors
> in
> the RPG source.  External:  When RPG compile error occurs, you need to
> check
> the RPG compile listing, oops - not there, now go check the printer file
> DDS, make corrections, recompile DDS, recompile RPG.
> 
> All that said, I always follow the shop standards.  I can do printer specs
> either way.
> 
> Jon, please indicate why you think "it is just better and safer to
> describe
> these things externally."
> 
> - Dan Bale
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:   Jon.Paris@halinfo.it [SMTP:Jon.Paris@halinfo.it]
> > Sent:   Saturday, April 08, 2000 9:08 AM
> > To:     RPG400-L@midrange.com
> > Subject:     Re: 'ILE RPG' or 'RPG IV' . What's the difference!!!
> >
> > PS. I don't think printer files have _anything_ to do with using them in
> > multiple places any more that display files do - it is just better and
> > safer to
> > describe these things externally.
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