Re: How best to pass a DS or DS Array

[Dexter Thompson <dexter.thompson@xxxxxxxxx>]

I had an issue with a DS being passed to a Service Program and my updates
to it was not being passed back to the calling program.  When a coworker
suggested pointers, my reaction is very similar to yours.  But I had a lot
of respect for the person making he suggestion, so I tried it and worked
great.  Since the data itself is not being passed, there is a little less
overhead, with my company, that is a premium.   There are multiple ways to
accomplish your task and which works best for you is up to you.  For me,
this worked great and gave me the flexibility to be able to pass parameters
in multiple formats.  Previously, there were middle programs taking
different parameter formats and then calling the service program with
single parameter format (the DS).  By using the pointer and passing the
different parameter formats I was able to eliminate the middle programs and
reduce run time (again a premium where I work).  Good luck.

On Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 5:17 PM Justin Taylor <JUSTIN@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I don't entirely follow the details of what you're asking.
>
> I often use DS as parameters or return values using the LikeDS() keyword.
> I'll define the DS in the /copybook for the *SRVPGM (specifying Template)
> and then have all the references use LikeDS().
>
> HTH
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greg Wilburn [mailto:gwilburn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, July 05, 2019 3:03 PM
> To: RPG programming on IBM i <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: How best to pass a DS or DS Array
>
> I don't know why I always struggle with this
>
> I have created a sub procedure that uses an SQL cursor to gather a list of
> ID numbers (see below).  I mean this will work if I move the DS definition
> to the main part of the pgm
>
> So my question is how to define a parameter to return this data to the
> main part of the pgm?
> And how do I define the variable in the main part of the pgm?
>
>
>        dcl-pi  CheckShipIDs;
>          inPID                like(phpid#) const;
>          inPO                 like(phpo#) const;
>        end-pi;
>
>
>        dcl-ds ship           qualified dim(10);
>          id                  char(20);
>        end-ds;
>       dcl-s maxrows         uns(5) inz(%elem(ship));
>
>        Exec Sql
>          Declare pscsr Cursor for
>         Select distinct(psidcd) from POSDQPS
>         exception join ADRESSAD on adent#=:wkent# and adaltk=:psidcd
>         where pspid#=:inPID and pspo#=:inPO;
>
>       Exec Sql Open pscsr;
>       Exec Sql Fetch Next from pscsr For :maxrows Rows into :ship;
>
>
>
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