Re: Monitor group not working on MOVE to date field???

[Vernon Hamberg <vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Y'all

I must affirm Jon's remarks - MONITOR is just like try-catch that is 
prevalent in Java and C++ - it's used everywhere, the preferred error 
handling process there. Yes, I use it when I'm doing a conversion 
from character to decimal that could have non-numeric data - it is 
cleaner than a whistle. You are in complete control of how large a 
block you control with this technique - very cool!!

I guess I'd say my example is like what Ken said - an expected error 
- but we have those all over - just like using MONMSG - we expect 
certain things. Nonetheless, local reponse to unexpected errors is useful, too.

Vern

At 06:33 PM 11/10/2007, you wrote:


> On 10-Nov-07, at 1:00 PM, Ken Sims wrote:
>
> > IMO, monitor should be used sparingly, only for things that are
> > unexpected or if there is no easy way provided to test in advance
>
> Have to disagree with you here Ken.
>
> Monitor is a relatively lightweight task and I feel the decision to
> use/not use should be based on the likelihood of the error
> occurring.  The ease or otherwise of the testing is irrelevant.
>
> Monitor logic is _much_ clearer since a) You know that the programmer
> anticipated a potential problem b) the anticipated code path is
> obvious c) the error handling is obvious.
>
> When you see something like:
>
> If myVar <> 0;
>    do lots of stuff:
> else;
>    do other stuff;
> endif;
>
> You really don't know until much later _why_ the variable is being
> tested - whereas an On-Error DivideByZero; makes it pretty darn clear.
>
> I would agree with you in cases where there was a high probability
> (i.e. > 50%) that the date was bad or whatever - but otherwise I
> think MONITOR is a far superior solution.
>
> Now if only Barbara would give us THROW to go with it ...
>
>
>
> Jon Paris
>
> www.Partner400.com
> www.SystemiDeveloper.com
>
>
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