RE: program design problem

What problem is the boss trying to solve? Just because someone doesn't like how something was done is rarely a good reason to make a change.

Matt

-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David FOXWELL
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 3:57 AM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
Subject: program design problem

Hi all,

I'd like some expert opinion here!

PgmA calls pgmB via a router with 2 obligatory parameters. The first, to tell the router what to do the second, an error message. :

Caller
Callp router( Info_Callee : ErrorMsg )

In addition, input parameters and/or output parameters can be passed via pointers :

Callp router( Info_Callee : ErrorMsg : ptr_in )
Callp router( Info_Callee : ErrorMsg : *omit : ptr_out )
Callp router( Info_Callee : ErrorMsg : ptr_in : ptr_out )

So there are 4 types of call possible.

The router will call the callee one of four ways like this, depending on the parameters received :
Callp callee ( ErrorMsg )
Callp callee ( ptr_in : ErrorMsg )
Callp callee ( ptr_out : ErrorMsg )
Callp callee ( ptr_in : ptr_out : ErrorMsg )

The callee does not control the passing of optional parameters, or the value *omit. This is done by the router.


The boss does not like it, and wants this :

Callp router( ptr_in : ptr_out )

The obligatory parameters would just be addressed by the pointers. No optional parameters. All programs call the router and are called with 2 pointers.


What do you think?