This idea for this post comes from a Comment posted on Creating a SQL table on the fly. Anonymous posed the question "Now how do you use that table in your RPG program?".
The post I describe how it is possible to use the SQL CREATE TABLE to build a SQL table extracting data from another file. I have mainly used this in processes that extract data and then send the extracted data to the requester via email. But there is no reason why I cannot read the table created in a RPG program.
As we now have all free RPG we need to find ways to move from familiar fixed format definitions to free format equivalents. Key lists, KLIST, are a good example. I still see new programs written in RPGLE with free form calculations, but with fixed format Key lists.
C KeyTestfile klist C kfld wkFld1 C kfld wkFld2 C kfld wkFld3 |
The solutions was provided back in V5R2:
I am sure I am not the only person who has been using the Trim built in functions (BIFs) in their RPG code to remove leading and trailing blanks from strings. Trim BIFs were introduced into CL with IBM i release 7.1, and function in the same way as their RPG brethren.
Were you aware that the Trim BIFs have a second parameter that can be used for removing characters other than blanks? I have Miguel Cordova to thank for bringing this to my attention. Using the second parameter I can remove any character using the Trim. Below I will show examples in RPG and in CL, and discuss what I found in using them in both languages.
In my many years of experience working for various companies I have found that just a few programmers define Control specifications in their RPG programs. The Control specification is commonly known as the Header specification, or H-spec, as in fixed format RPG the specification character, in the sixth position of the line, is 'H'. In all free RPG the Control specification was replaced by the Control options, 'CTL-OPT'.
In my opinion this was the most cryptic of the specifications in RPG III as you had to know what each column stood for, as it would only reveal its meaning when F4 was pressed to prompt the line.
I have always found New Years exciting, a new year is ahead of me that will be full of exciting new things and adventures. It is also the chance to bid farewell to the old year, and revisit its highlights.
2014 was an exciting year in the IBM i world with the following: