Re: Help with parameter passing

[Hans Boldt <boldt@xxxxxxxxxx>]

cozzi@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Hans,
>
> How would we pass a parameter to a proc written in RPG IV like we
> can with some of the programs we call.
> For example, if I want to allow a parm to be anything, numeric,
> character, date, etc.  And then tell the proc on a subsequent parm
> what that value is, do I code the parm as a pointer or what?
>
> .....D myFunct        PI
>      D  anytype                     *
>      D   nLen                     10I 0
>      D   nDec                     10I 0
>      D   type                     10I 0
>
> Could I call myFunct and pass a characte field, or a numeric field
> or a data field?  If so, could I avoid using %ADDR to do it, or do I
> need to wrap the variable in %ADDR?
>
> My guess is that I would need to do pass %ADDR(CustNo), but is that
> allowed when I may want to change the data in the called proc? 
> (i.e, I don't want to use CONST).
>
> Thanks!

Hi Bob! Scott has already said most of the things I would have said 
in response to your note. Use VALUE parms, and consider the 
complexity of the code to handle the different expected data types.

I'll just add that we do have procedure overloading in our "proposed 
enhancements" file. That is, allowing the coding of multiple 
procedures overloaded with the same name. For example, with the 
appropriately coded prototypes, you could have CALLP PROC(123) call 
real procedure PROCNUM and CALLP PROC('ABC') call real procedure 
PROCCHAR. But as always, it will still have to be prioritized 
against several dozen other worthy proposed enhancements.

Cheers! Hans