Re: You know, I'm pretty sure it's zoned...

----- Original Message -----
From: <bmorris@ca.ibm.com>
To: <rpg400-l@midrange.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: You know, I'm pretty sure it's zoned...



> It's a very common error among RPG programmers to think that what appears
> on an I spec is a definition, but it is not a definition; it is a
> description
> of a field in a input buffer.

Yes, I understand exactly. Which is why it is so disturbing. Again, the
compiler arbitrarily selects packed for you, unless you re-declare the
variable... errrrr... definition... errrrrr... description.... errr...
bufferhead.......

You tell us that with the Great and Powerful OZ (38/400) you don't need no
stinkin I specs. The declaration can be copied in from the file itself...
Hey! no more outta-synch file description copy book/I-specs. Just
outta-synch D specs now.  ;-)

> Anything that is a source of common error
> is probably "bad".  I don't disagree that this being the default behaviour
> is not ideal, and if I could go back in time and ask those long ago RPG
> compiler designers to reconsider their decision (read "slap them upside
> their head"), I would.  But my dog ate my time machine, so I can't.

Wow, don't you feed your dog? I know my Akita would never eat any machine I
left laying about....  <VBG>

===========================================================
R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr.
 -- IBM Certified Specialist - iSeries Administrator
 -- IBM Certified Specialist - RPG IV Developer

"Suppose you were an idiot...
  And suppose you were a member of Congress...
  But I repeat myself."
    - Mark Twain