Re: MAIN and LR

Is there any real difference or code/time savings by doing a D spec

D fielda 30a automatic

versus

/free
clear fielda
/end-free

in your main procedure.

-----Original Message----- From: Alan Campin
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 5:26 PM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
Subject: Re: MAIN and LR

I like the idea. Provide a keyword AUTOMATIC that could be used only
on a global variable and would initialize every time the program was
called.

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 3:14 PM, Joe Pluta <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 9/26/2012 3:31 PM, Ken Sims wrote:

Hi Alan -

On Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:54:32 -0600, Alan Campin<alan0307d@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Yes, but only the first time, if the variable is global, that a given
module or program is called. In my opinion, that is a bug. I think
every time you call a program or module it should execute the
initialize logic for a global variable if the variable has a INZ
keyword on the variable.

Not even!!!

I have many API-type programs that get called repeatedly and return
with *INLR off. If the global variables were reinitialized (even if
it was limited to those with an explicit INZ), many of those programs
would stop working properly.

The rule of the compiler is that global variables are static,
regardless of whether or not there is an explicit INZ. Changing that
rule would be a major issue for many people.

To get your behavior there would need to be an enhancement to allow
global variables to be specified as AUTOMATIC. If that were added, I
would expect those variables to be initialized on every call, even if
they don't have an explicit INZ.

Ken
Opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily represent the views
of my employer or anyone in their right mind.

I have to chuckle when I read that sig, Ken. And I agree 100% with your
assessment about only changing the rules with an AUTOMATIC flag.
However, many might argue that I am not right in my mind, so there you go.

Joe
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