Re: Should the labels in the outline view use free-form syntax

I haven't weighed in on this until I read a couple recent posts. I work in
multiple languages. (I confess my first language is COBOL with RPG as a
second language.) Most of the RPG I work in is from a vendor and they
haven't really transitioned to free form. But I have no problem reading
and understanding the labels using free form syntax. I would definitely
prefer the proposed new syntax over the old (existing) format.

My preference may be because I don't come from a heavily RPG background.
I'm sure any change made will draw some complaints, but for me it would be
worth it.

My 2-cents worth,
Michael Quigley
Computer Services
The Way International
www.TheWay.org

"WDSCI-L" <wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote on 06/25/2014 01:51:29 PM:

----- Message from Edmund Reinhardt <edmund.reinhardt@xxxxxxxxxx> on
Wed, 25 Jun 2014 13:38:26 -0400 -----

To: wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: [WDSCI-L] Should the labels in the outline view use free-form

syntax

Hi folks
I am revisiting the outline view labels because I need to support the

new

TIMESTAMP fractional seconds.
It occurs to be that the outline labels are verbose compared to the new
free form syntax. The new free form syntax could provide more

information

with less screen real estate.
For example for files
myExternal: DISK Externally Described
myInternal: PRINTER Program Described
vs
myExternal: DISK(*EXT)
myInternal: PRINTER(132)

This would even allow for more keywords to be shown like EXTDESC,

TEMPLATE,

QUALIFIED, ALIAS

For fields we currently have
myField: Character (100) VARYING(4)
myUcs: UCS-2(40) VARYING(2)
myPtr: Pointer(16) PROCPTR DIM(10)
myNum: Packed Decimal (10: 2)
vs
myField: VARCHAR(100:4)
myUcs: VARUCS(40)
myPtr: POINTER(*PROC) DIM(10)
myNum: PACKED(10:2)

Here the difference is not as clear but there are many more keywords

shown

on fields that could be obscured by the longer names.
On the other hand, the data type names are translated to your local
language and may make things like UNS (Unsigned) to be obvious.

Please let me know whether you would prefer things shown in the terser
standard free form RPG or the the Verbose translated labels?
I do not want to have a preference, I would prefer to switch and have a
single standard way of doing this.




Regards,

Edmund (E.H.) Reinhardt
Technical Architect for Rational Developer for i



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