Re: RETURN in the middle of a DOW?

[Scott Klement <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> If this module is called several times in the same activiation group,
> and RETURNs several times in the middle of the DOW loop, are there any
> consequences to subsequent calls?  I just can't help but think there
> is going to be some 'stack overflow' or something.

The RPG compiler is smarter than that. I'm pretty sure that a loop doesn't 
involve putting anything on a stack, so you wouldn't get a stack overflow.

But even if it did, the RPG compiler is smart.  It knows when it needs to 
pop additional entries from the stack -- for example, if you use GOTO to 
get out of a subroutine, it knows that the address that was pushed onto 
the stack by the EXSR needs to be popped off. (even though you didn't 
execute an ENDSR or LEAVESR)

In your case, however, the loop doesn't put anything on the stack, so 
there's no danger. The call to the subprocedure puts stuff on the stack, 
but the return will remove it, so there's no danger there either.

> All static variable values are being handled to accomodate this, but it 
> just doesn't feel right.

You don't need to do that,


> Should I not be in a loop while RETURNing?

It could be argued that it's a bad STYLE choice to return in the middle of 
a loop -- but that's a whole different discussion. Returning from the 
middle of a loop should work just fine.