Re: Best way to use Activation Groups -- RPG400-L

But I have one question. If we open all the files used by various
procedures in the module, when only one procedure is used by the caller,
What is the need of defining the file as usropn, Doesn't the OS do it for us
when we declare a file with out usropn in a NoMain module?

RPG will automatically open the files for you, yes. (It's code that'seither generated by RPG, or is part of the RPG runtime that does this,not the OS.)

I guess I like my programs to control how files are opened, in case I wantto execute an OVRDBF or use EXTNAME/EXTMBR.

Plus, I can do other things in the init and done routines besides openfiles. I can allocate memory, or create temporary objects, or anythingelse that needs to be done when my service program starts.

So, I like to establish these routines in every service program. Even ifI don't need the extra flexibility that they offer, it's easier to codethem now and have everything working properly than it is to try toretrofit them later if I need them.

Another thing that I could've done, instead of closing each fileindividually with "if %open / close / endif" I could've just said "Close*ALL" and it'd close every file that's open. But, I like to have code thecloses them explicitly... I like it to be something that's absolutelyclear in my code.

But, this is all a matter of style, and style is a matter of opinion. Ifyou prefer to let RPG do the work for you, you do have that option.

I know we cannot code CEE4RAGE, and depend on the OS to close all ODP's when
activation group ends. What are the other advantages?

Just that you have a routine where you can put "first time run" code.(Similar to an *INZSR) and a routine where you can put "before closing"code. You can use that to do some special setup if you want to. I likehaving that functionality available.