Re: Why you shouldn't be afraid to use VARCHAR in RPGLE

Hi Brian, sorry I was lazy. Writing in English is not my best talent.

What I suggested is NOT how to eliminate the %RTRIM but how to handle the
varchar definition when the basing var is in a record format.

Since the compiler defines record formats using I spec and I specs are
after D specs the value of the %LEN(dbfield) is not valid (RNF3320).

Let's say the file with PHADDRESS1 is MyFile.

dcl-s   w_address1      varchar(%len(phaddress1));   // RNF3320

But if you add:

Dcl-Ds wMyfile extname('MYFILE') End-Ds;
dcl-s   w_address1      varchar(%len(phaddress1));

the compiler will accept the varchar definition.

Of course to have a value in w_address1 you have to

chain MyFileKey MyFile;
w_address1 = %rtrim(address1);

Or, as suggested in another post, use address1 in a function with *TRIM.

The advantage of using %len in the varchar string definition is that the
maximum length is guaranteed even when the original field changes size.
This allows older RPG programmers to use varchars without too much hassle
or anxiety. :-)

Best regards
--
Marco Facchinetti

Mr S.r.l.

Tel. 035 962885
Cel. 393 9620498

Skype: facchinettimarco


Il giorno sab 6 dic 2025 alle ore 15:56 Brian Parkins <
[email protected]> ha scritto:

> Marco, can you provide an example? I can't see how that would work, but
> I may be misunderstanding. Please prove me wrong.
>
> Brian.
>
> On 05/12/2025 23:04, Marco Facchinetti wrote:
> > Just define e Ds based on the file prior of the varchar definition.
> >
> > HTH
> > --
> > Marco Facchinetti
> >
> > Mr S.r.l.
> >
> > Tel. 035 962885
> > Cel. 393 9620498
> >
> > Skype: facchinettimarco
> >
> >
> > Il giorno ven 5 dic 2025 alle ore 23:28 DEnglander--- via RPG400-L <
> > [email protected]> ha scritto:
> >
> >> Does anyone know how to do something like this:
> >>
> >> I would like to define a %TRIMmed disk field that is CHAR(200)
> >> [PHADDRESS1] as a VARCHAR and eliminate the %TRIMs.
> >>
> >> So as not to hardcode the size of the VARCHAR, can I define it as
> VARCHAR
> >> but based on the length of the CHAR(200) field? Something like:
> >>
> >> dcl-s   w_address1      varchar(%len(phaddress1));
> >>
> >>
> >> Can that be done?
> >>
> >> Thank you,
> >>
> >> Doug
> >>
> >>
> >>
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