RE: Multi- Occurrence Data Structure

While I agree with Jon, I must admit I can sympathize with Ken.

Having programmed in Pascal, I sometimes miss the WITH construct...

WITH myRecord(before);
If .custType = retail;
//do something
Endif;
If .custCountry <> US;
//do something
Endif;
Endwith;

Seems like the best of both worlds to me!

Charles

-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Jon Paris
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:08 AM
To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Multi- Occurrence Data Structure


On 13-Dec-07, at 6:22 AM, Ken Sims wrote:

As I
was putting the array index on the statements loading the various
sub-fields, I thought "Why the hell am I doing this? I'm not going to
be sorting it or doing anything else which needs the array
functionality."

I can tell you why I would have done it - because it would make it
obvious to those reading the code later (me included) _exactly_ which
value (from the set represented by the array/MODS) was being used by
the instruction. That simple piece of knowledge - which would save
me time over and over again in the future - far outweighs any trivial
benefit from the few seconds I saved by not having to type the
subscript.

For example if using a DS for before/after images of a record and I
see this code:

If myRecord(before).custType = retail;

I know exactly which field is being referenced. Which one is this
referencing?

If custType = retail;

To me it is that simple.

In programming I don't want to use new features simply because they
are new, but if - as in this case - they offer significant
improvements in readability then I think adoption of the new
technique is the right way to go.

Jon Paris

www.Partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com


--
This is the RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries (RPG400-L) mailing list
To post a message email: RPG400-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/rpg400-l
or email: RPG400-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives
at http://archive.midrange.com/rpg400-l.

This e-mail transmission contains information that is intended to be confidential and privileged. If you receive this e-mail and you are not a named addressee you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this communication without the consent of the sender and that doing so is prohibited and may be unlawful. Please reply to the message immediately by informing the sender that the message was misdirected. After replying, please delete and otherwise erase it and any attachments from your computer system. Your assistance in correcting this error is appreciated.