List Usage (was: Seeing a file on the IFS in V3R7)

["Simon Coulter" <shc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Booth (and David),

Well COBOL has it's own list, although it's VERY quiet (Is that because COBOL 
programmers 
are _better_ than RPG programmers and don't have to ask so many questions?  Or 
just 
'cause no-one uses it?  Tongue firmly in cheek!).  

I'd think programming languages are sufficiently different to warrant separate 
coverage 
-- hence the Java, MI, and COBOL lists.  REXX should also have a separate list 
if there 
is enough activity.

Perhaps the ideal is a PROGRAMMING list for the CL, DDS, possibly REXX, 
OPNQRYF, SQL and 
other general programming issues thus leaving MIDRANGE-L for the topics you 
suggest.  
Even when those techniques are being used in an RPG application they are rarely 
related 
to specific RPG issues.  A general programming list could be used to argue the 
DOU/DOW 
issue (but not if I'm the moderator** -- and you can take that as me 
volunteering for the 
job) and other language-independant issues.

What say you all?  Should we separate the topics or alter the function (and 
name) of the 
RPG400 list?

I can see Midrange Dot Com taking over from the trade rags ... pity about the 
NASDAQ ... 
the IPO for Midrange Dot Com would have been interesting :)

** A read loop should almost always be a DOW.  The issue being currently argued 
is really 
whether a priming read should be used or a single read in an IF test inside the 
DO.  I 
used to be in the IF camp when I first started programming but after a while I 
started 
thinking about the construction of the loop and the additional unnecessary IF 
test and 
changed to the priming read.  I know there is nothing worse than a reformed 
convert but 
those still in the DOU or extra IF camp are simply wrong.  You can mask that 
with 
arguments about religion, style, or "it's always worked for me" but the fact is 
it's 
wrong.  No amount of persuasion from either side will create a convert.  You 
have to 
THINK it through for yourself.  ITER and LEAVE (and the appalling LEAVESR) fall 
in to the 
same category and I've said enough about them in the past.

Regards,
Simon Coulter.

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//--- forwarded letter -------------------------------------------------------
> X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 5.0a  May 4, 1999
> Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 16:07:06 +0000
> From: boothm@earth.Goddard.edu
> To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
> Reply-To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
> Cc: none
> Subject: Seeing a file on the IFS in V3R7

> 
> No. its probably a matter of misunderstanding on my part.  I tend to think 
> of the Midrange List as being more for the operations and management 
> aspects of the AS/400.  For instance, I'd think that list was the place 
> for  comments and questions about IBM marketing & advertising, security, 
> policy, model characteristics, management and training, connectivity, the 
> internet and software packages. 
> 
> I think of the RPG list as being more for language and database questions. 
>  For instance I would consider this the right list for questions and 
> comments about  CL, COBOL, DDS, FMTSRC, and REXX, but not Java or 
> Code/400.
> 
> _______________________
> Booth Martin
> boothm@earth.goddard.edu
> http://www.spy.net/~booth
> _______________________

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