Initialization of static variables

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(AGH!  I reposted this because I forgot to change the subject.)


I was trying to figure out why static variables in a subprocedure are
not being reinitialized when I reenter the program.

Being a good boy, I did a little research and found Barbara's answer
from two years ago, which as always is clear and complete.
Unfortunately, it's very frustrating, because it's not what I want to
hear <grin>.

"I think what you're suggesting is that when a _module_'s (not program)
main procedure returns with LR on, when that main procedure gets called
again, the subprocedure static should get reinitialized along with the
other globals in the module.  Maybe that would have been the right
behaviour, maybe not.  What about calls to the subprocedures between
calls to the main procedure?  Should the subprocedures be reinitialized
even before the main procedure gets called again?

As to whether this is right or wrong, maybe it would have been better to
have different behaviour for subprocedures in a module with a main.
Maybe the subprocedures' static should have been subject to LR
reinitialization. Or at least non-exported subprocedures.  But then
there would have been different behaviour for a subprocedure in a NOMAIN
module.  Our thinking was that subprocedures are more ILE-ish than
RPG-ish, and should behave like ILE things, and not be subject to the
RPG cycle."


Okay, I can buy this.  It simply means that anything I want
reinitialized whenever the program restarts has to be global.  Pluses
and minuses there, but it's at least a workaround.

I would ask for one thing.  I would love a keyword either on the D spec
(or even up at the PI level) along the lines of *GLBREINZ that would say
"reinitialize this variable whenever global reinitialization is done".
That would allow us the best of both worlds.

Joe