×
The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.
Bob cozzi wrote:
Hans,
Hans,
I can?
What is the comma used for in RPG IV?
Nothing in RPG IV that I can think of, it does not exist, does it?
Am I having a brain fart? I can code the statement you specified, but it
won't compile.
Callp myProc(12,17);
Huh? Explain, please?
Hi Bob! Well, I for one know for a fact we've discussed this before.
It may have been quite a while ago, but we have. I also remember
quite clearly the internal discussions that led to the decision to
make the colon the parameter separator. So it would appear that I
have to bring up that story again.
First, what does "CALLP MYPROC(12,17);" mean? It means you're
passing one (1) numeric parameter with four digits and two decimal
places. That decimal notation is something that Europeans are quite
familiar with, and European programmers were also quite familiar
with coding decimal literals with comma decimal separator in RPG III
programs (with a particular option on the H-Spec).
Now as you know, the RPG planner at the time was born in Europe, and
he felt that allowing the comma as a decimal separator in RPG IV
numeric literals was a good idea. Practically all other compiler
developers on the team thought the idea stank. I even brought in a
pile of cash register receipts saved from various trips to Europe
which showed that, although the comma is preferred, Europeans still
could handle a period as decimal separator. (Half the receipts used
comma, half period.) If European consumers could recognize the
period as decimal separator, I argued, then surely European
programmers could too. (Regardless of decimal notation within RPG
programs, there would always be the choice of comma as decimal
separator in edited numbers in the output of RPG programs.)
Anyways, as you can see, his opinion won out. Which then meant we
needed to choose another character as parameter separator. The colon
was deemed the least objectionable of the alternatives.
End of story.
Cheers! Hans
This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact
[javascript protected email address].
Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.
midrange.com
