Re: File Fields In Array

[Scott Klement <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jerry,

I think you're on the right track.  personally, I'd try to avoid 
hard-coding the size/positions of the fields, though.  If the various 
SlOthCtr1 fields are externally defined, I'd do this:

dcl-ds *n;
  SlOthCtr1;
  SlOthCtr2;
    .
    .
  SlOthCtr28;
  Containers like(SlOthCtr1) dim(28) samepos(SlOthCtr1);
end-ds;

That way, you keep the external definitions of SlOthCtrXX, and the size 
of Containers will be the same size as well.  Instead of hard-coding the 
position in the DS, I used SamePos, so if extra stuff is added/removed 
from the DS, it won't matter.  The only thing that's still hard-coded is 
the DIM statement,.

The other thing you might consider is using the name SlOthCtr for the 
array rather than Containers.  That way, someone who is already familiar 
with the field will recognize it.  They won't have to know/remember that 
'Containers' is equivalent.

On 3/12/2021 10:10 AM, (WalzCraft) Jerry Forss wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I know this is a simple question but is escaping me at the moment.
>
> I have a file that contains fields SLOTHCTR1 - SLOTHCTR28, each 40 char.
>
> I want to have these loaded into an array because I need to change some, print label, change again, print and so on.
>
> Changing by index would be immensely less coding then changing the field directly.
>
> This is basically what I what it to look like.
>
> Dcl-DS *n;
>    Containers          Dim(28);
>    SlOthCtr1           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers);
>    SlOthCtr2           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr3           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr4           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr5           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr6           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr7           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr8           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr9           Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr10          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr11          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr12          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr13          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr14          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr15          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr16          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr17          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr18          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr19          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr20          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr21          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr22          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr23          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr24          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr25          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr26          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr27          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
>    SlOthCtr28          Char(40)         Overlay(Containers : *Next);
> End-Ds;
>
> That way I can change the fields by changing the Containers(x);
>
> What should this look like?