Re: using a defined constant to dimension an array

[boldt@xxxxxxxxxx]

Joep wrote:
><snip>
>> Here are a couple of my favorite "How could they?":
>> - specifying external names as normal RPG names, and not as
>>   character literals (results in inconsistencies in the
>>   language as well as complications in compiling)
><snip>
>Hans,
>Most of your posts make perfect sense,

"Most"?  That many??

>but this time, I'm afraid I haven't
>got a clue what your on about.  Could you please explain what you mean by
>this?  Which external names are you referring to?  Files, formats, fields,
>programs, procedures?  And what do you mean by 'normal RPG names'?
Luckily
>I know what character literals are :-)

OK, it's a subtle point.   These external names refer to the
names coded on the keywords INCLUDE, IGNORE, RENAME (1st parm),
and DTAARA.  Basically, these names must conform to RPG
identifier rules, even though they are really "system" names,
like file names, data area names, etc.  To add further confusion,
if you have an external name X, you are allowed to code an
internal name X as well.  In retrospect, it was a bad design that
complicates not only compilation but also language design.  For
example, what if we wanted to allow a variable name for DTAARA?

Hans Boldt, ILE RPG Development, IBM Toronto Lab, boldt@ca.ibm.com

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