Re: File with LikeRec Data-Structure Template -vs- ExtName Data-Structure Template

<Charles>
EXTNAME simply retrieves the structure of the file at compile time...

So no, you don't have to re-compile the program unless you have a
requirement to pick up the new definition..

One such use case, you have _dynamic_ SELECT * SQL statement...

A static SELECT * isn't a problem given the way the pre-compiler works...

Though SELECT * in production is generally a bad idea.
</Charles>

select * isn't the bad idea, select ... from a table is the bad idea.
There are two simple rules to follow:
1. Never use a table direct in a programm, neither in a select, nor in extname, use a view instead!!!)
2. Don't change a view - never ever!!! (If you want to add a field, create a new view)

select * from someNeverChanged view into a DS extname(someNeverChangedView) is simple, robust, foolproof and minimizes the traffic between application and database.

D*B