Re: just curious - Number of Parms

[Ken.Slaugh@xxxxxxxxxx]

Passing a data structure can produce memory overlays an failures but the
convenience of just recompiling the programs from a common DDS based object
is an excellent way of handling versioning especially when the data files
used or maintained within these programs are also normally changing
definition as well.

     Besides, parameter validation is not a issue until the parameter in
question is referenced and field type is defined within the DDS so packed,
binary and strings are passed as defined within a string field. We've all
found it easier to pass strings anyway.

Ken Slaugh  (707) 795-1512 x118
Chouinard & Myhre, Inc.
AS/400 Professional Administrator/MSE
Client Access Specialist
http://www.cm-inc.com/


                                                                                
              
                    Gary Guthrie                                                
              
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Number of Parms  
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                    07/27/00 07:56 PM                                           
              
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Ah, but there are excellent reasons to pass individual parameters. With
procedural RPG, you have parameter validation that occurs before
run-time (nice to avoid those failures). Additionally, use of a data
structure removes considerable flexibility. You can no longer take
advantage of those situations that allow you to do such things as pass
numeric parameters without worrying whether it is packed, zoned, ...

Of course, there are circumstances in which passing a data structure as
a parameter is indeed appropriate. However, I don't feel that using one
to avoid passing individual parameters qualifies as one of those
circumstances.


Gary Guthrie
REAL Solutions Technical Support
NEWS/400 Technical Editor



jpcarr@TREDEGAR.COM wrote:
>
> >Wouldn't it make sense to just send a data structure as single
parameter.
> >Then you can externally define it with DDS.
> >Ken Slaugh  (707) 795-1512 x118
>
> You got it Ken, I RARELY define individual parms.  I always pass a
> structure.
> 90% of the time I externally define it.  And now with the next release of
> RPGIV(?)
> we will be able to initialize D/S subfields with default values via the
DDS
> DFT keyword.
> So even the default initialization is done via the Parameter template
file
> external to the program.
> So no hard coding of INZ values..
>
> If a field definition is changed,  You change the Field Reference, CHGPF
on
> the Template file
> and recompile program.   You don't have to change source code nearly
ever.
>
> Just a thought
>
> John Carr
> EdgeTech Inc
> 804-739-7689
>
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