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

The RPG compiler is a single-pass compiler, meaning at each line, the compiler says "sti cks, stacks, No take-backs". I've done refused to compile until I changed the order of the lines. I think it is an artifact from the days of compiling RPG from the card decks.

That would explain the order of the specs. F-specs first, D-specs second, I-specs next, then D-specs. With advances in hardware the compiler team could do procedures as part of a program. But they're still one-take compiling. 

I think I'm right on this. Maybe Barbara or Jon will tune in and confirm me on this or not.

--Alan


> On 12/09/2025 4:21 PM EST Vern Hamberg via RPG400-L <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
>  
> Hi Daniel
> 
> At first blush, I think of the differences - LIKE(...) is an internal 
> reference, EXTNAME(....) and LIKEREC(....) are external references - 
> certainly the former is. I think I heard something several years ago 
> about that.
> 
> *Regards*
> 
> *Vern Hamberg*
> 
> IBM Champion 2025 <cid:[email protected]> CAAC 
> (COMMON Americas Advisory Council) IBM Influencer 2023
> 
> 
> On 12/9/2025 2:06 PM, Daniel Gross wrote:
> > Hi Doug,
> >
> > I had some more time, and tried some code.
> >
> > In fact - it is absolutely no problem, to have a LIKE(...) definition even if the original field is defined "later" in the code.
> >
> > But if the original fields are defined with EXTNAME(...) or LIKEREC(..) this definition must be defined and the LIKE(...) definition has to follow it.
> >
> > I don't know why this is the case - and I cannot find something about this in the Info Center. Maybe someone with deeper knowledge of the RPG compiler can help here - Barbara? Jon?
> >
> > HTH
> > Daniel
> >
> >
> >> Am 09.12.2025 um 01:48 schrieb Marco Facchinetti<[email protected]>:
> >>
> >> Hi Douglas, just move the Ds declaration before the varchar one:
> >>
> >> dcl-ds  frf_control  extname('CONTROL');
> >>
> >> dcl-s  p_folder             varchar(%len(actclon1));
> >>
> >> HTH
> >> --
> >> Marco Facchinetti
> >>
> >> Mr S.r.l.
> >>
> >> Tel. 035 962885
> >> Cel. 393 9620498
> >>
> >> Skype: facchinettimarco
> >>
> >>
> >>> Il giorno lun 8 dic 2025 alle ore 15:56 DEnglander--- via RPG400-L <
> >>> [email protected]> ha scritto:
> >>>
> >>> 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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