From: Scott Klement
Joe Pluta wrote:
And I expressed my opinion! Isn't the Internet great?
Sort of. You basically approached this with the "Nope, IBM should keep
it VARYING and automatically adjust the size of the index."
Actually, Scott, that's sort of not the case.
I started by saying use a constant VARFLD_ADJUST_LENGTH.
I then stayed out of it while the great minds of the 21st century debated
the VARYING vs. VARLEN concept. Finally, I threw in my two cents to use a
reasonably named keyword (*MAXxxnB). You said it was too long and too
confusing. That was when I finally switched to the idea of using a prefix
whose size was based on the maximum length of the field.
So, as it turns out, my position actually grew and changed throughout the
discussion. Which is what these forums are for: the exchange of ideas.
Despite
that I had already given my reasons why I didn't like that as much, you
persisted in making me prove that my way was better -- without giving
ANY reason why your way was better.
I have explained in detail why I prefer the auto-sized prefix approach.
It's 100% backwards compatible with no additional keywords to learn. Not
sure it's "better" or even "mine" since it grew out of discussions on the
forum, but it's the one I prefer.
In other words, put the burden of
proof on Scott, and then every time he wastes his time explaining it,
come back and give some alternate solution to the problem so that Scott
has to come up with another example or another reason why his way is
better. On and on and on, debate about it for days...
You must be much fun in design meetings... <grin> Seriously, Scott, that's
the point: if you present your opinion in a public forum, people are allowed
to disagree with you, and tell you why! If your only desire is to tell us
what your opinion is and we shouldn't gainsay it, then you're on the road to
becoming an "industry expert". And frankly, I think your opinions are worth
much more than that. Most of the time I agree with you, actually; I even
named one technique I use every day after you: KlementParms.
It's not that I don't value your opinion, Joe. It's that I don't want
to sit here and debate about it.
It seems that every time I get into the same conversation that you're
in, it turns into a long protracted debate. I just wanted to say my
opinion, not fight about it.
Do you see what you're saying? You just want to tell everyone what your
opinion is. And really, that isn't even the case: you want everyone to
AGREE with your opinion, else you wouldn't argue about it.
At one point I went so far as to say "I would stick with the *MAXxxnB were I
to use keywords, but I prefer the implicit size." That's about as
even-handed as you can get, Scott. I simply said I prefer my view.
Anyway, I think the concept here is interesting. I like the forums not
solely because I get to present my ideas (although there is a certain amount
of vanity in having people like ideas I present) but also because I learn
new ways of looking at things. People poke holes in my positions, although
they had better bring their A game when they do, because my opinions
(despite your characterization) are generally pretty thoroughly thought out.
I suppose there's a line between being thorough and being argumentative, and
I'm as guilty as anyone of crossing that line. That's my nature; I prefer
my opinions to stand up to the most rigorous of arguments, because that's
what makes good decisions.
Anyway, if I've offended you, Scott, by presenting alternate positions, then
I apologize. If your goal really is to simply present your opinions without
any discourse, then I'll try in the future to not comment on your posts.
Joe
midrange.com
