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steema@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Being as we are using a system that was written for the 38, how would you go about modernizing this system? Is the answer to buy a new package? Which I happen to think it is. We have many aspects of the database that are difficult to program, yet one can. We have over the years, programmers and managers just putting fields on wherever there was room, etc... There are many many ad hoc work files in use, etc... Steve
Steve,You are, as you might suspect, not unique in this regard. I'd venture the guess that at least 50%, if not 100%, of the people on this list could say something similar. In our case, I have to maintain RPG II programs originally written for a S/34 (and not written very well even for that box).
It eventually comes down to a business (ROI) decision (though, personally, I think many of those are just wishful thinking and/or some sort of accounting voodoo). In our case, the application works and works well. New stuff is in RPG IV and (some) ILE. After V5R4 someone is going to have to make that business decision about paying for the PRPQ for RPG II, or coughing up money (as painful as hairballs) for a converter.
The fact that the application is difficult to program is probably not a factor in the decision, unless someone takes the time (which they rarely do) to factor that into the ROI. On the other hand, if a new system has immediate (or short term - Wall Street mentality) benefits. then there's a chance. I did that at least a couple of times; once made $20-40k a week for the company - I got an extra (paid) day off after that one. Point being: That's what's expected of us.
I would ask if your system is documented. Ok, seriously, do you (or someone there) have a good feel for how the application works and does its magic? I'm still doing that here after nearly three years. Had to plug in one of those ad hoc work files just last week; took awhile but just part of the job.
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* Jerry C. Adams
*IBM System i Programmer/Analyst
B&W Wholesale Distributors, Inc.* *
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