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

No apology needed, Marco. I understand now - and of course it works!

DOUG: Try the approach that Marco describes (below).

Brian.

On 06/12/2025 15:17, Marco Facchinetti wrote:
> 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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