Re: Why we don't use procedures more (was MOVE opcode in freeform /strangebehavior w/%editc) -- RPG400-L

Hello Simon,

Looks like there really is someone up there who likes me:  we are getting
our own development/test/play LPAR on the production box within a couple of
weeks.

So that takes away one of my 'problems'.

And further to your remark about Honda in New Zealand: the Europe branch
has _not_ bittin in the ILE apple (even though we would love to), but we
are forced to maintain/expand/customize/troubleshoot an application that
was written by the Japanese head office a long time ago, with some
remaining OCL and mainly RPG/400.

Although we would like to at least convert everything to RPG IV (not
necessarily ILE yet), we simply don't get the time to do this.  Also, there
are many local customizations done by the national Honda subsidiaries, and
their local IS management doesn't allow us to change them.

This said, every new program or major modification is done in RPG IV, so as
to create a new standard.  ILE is hopefully for the near future.

Regards,

Peter Colpaert
Application Developer

Honda Europe NV
Langerbruggestraat 104
B-9000 GENT
Peter.Colpaert@honda-eu.com
Tel: +32 9 2501 334
Fax: +32 9 2501 231
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"Simon Coulter" <shc@flybynight.com.au>@midrange.com on 13/03/2002 23:57:00

Please respond to rpg400-l@midrange.com

Sent by:  rpg400-l-admin@midrange.com


To:   rpg400-l@midrange.com
cc:

Subject:  Re: Why we don't use procedures more (was MOVE opcode in freeform
      /strange behavior w/%editc)



Hello Peter,

You wrote:
>We _do_ have a v5 box at work, but it's a production system, and we cannot
>use it to 'play around'.  We have to use our development box (v4r3) to do
>this.

I keep forgetting how restrictive some companies are.  Although one
seriously has to question why 510 is the production system.  It is much
more usual to have the more recent release on a development box in order to
test it out first.

Why can't they give you a library on the 510 machine to test in?  You could
quite easily be isolated from the rest of the machine.  I can see only
three possible sources of problems:
     1. No compiler on the production box (not much point in playing)
     2. Fear that you might inadvertantly crash, hang, or loop the
machine - reasonable caution but somewhat unfounded.
     3. Short-sighted management (not much you can do about that if they
won;t listen)

<<< snip >>>

>Freebies from IBM?  Not in Belgium, as far as I know...

I saw the .com in your e-mail address and presumed a US based corporation.
I didn't see the -eu part nor your signature.  Here in Australia we suffer
from similar tyrannies of distance and especially the US-centric view of
the world exhibited by most American corporations.

>As you can see, it's not my attitude, but the circumstances that stand in
>my way.

Point taken.  But if my employer were not interested in furthering my
career I'd be looking for somewhere else to work.  I know that Honda in New
Zealand is doing great things with RPG IV and ILE.  They've bitten into the
ILE apple with gusto.  Perhaps you can contact someone there (John V.
Thompson used to write articles based on the stuff they were doing at Honda
NZ) and use that as ammunition to further your cause with your current
employer?

Regards,
Simon Coulter.