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

Hi Doug,

the VARCHAR(%LEN(...)) definitions should even work in 7.3 - at least according to InfoCenter:

-> https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.3.0?topic=length-len-used-its-value

So maybe you need to have the definitions of the EXTNAME-DS and the field in the correct sequence. Or try this:

   dcl-f myFile disk usage(*input);                    // the original file
   dcl-ds myType likerec(myFileR) template;  // a template from the record format
   dcl-s vc varchar(%len(myType.field)) inz;   // a field length derieved from the template

In this case, the template is qualified, but it also doesn't reserve any space - so it doesn't hurt.

HTH
Daniel


> Am 08.12.2025 um 15:56 schrieb DEnglander--- via RPG400-L <[email protected]>:
> 
> Marco,
> 
> I tried what you listed, and it won't compile. I am running V7R4, with TR
> 10. What version are you running?
> 
> 
> This is the line in my program:
> 
> dcl-s  p_folder             varchar(%len(actclon1));
> 
> ACTLON1 is a field in file CONTROL.
> 
> I also have this a little further down in the source:
> 
> dcl-ds  frf_control  extname('CONTROL');
> 
> I get the RNF3320. What is even more strange in this program, is that I
> also have the CONTROL file opened for input in an F spec, and the compiler
> still is complaining. But the message appears to show its complaining
> about the varchar(%len()), not the actual field definition itself. That is
> why I'm thinking I need to maybe have TR 11 installed first.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Douglas Englander
> Senior Programmer/Analyst
> The C. D. Hartnett Company – Corporate Offices
> 1-817-594-3813  ext. 1636
> 
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