RE: Options for YAJLINTO to handle a null array

Daniel,

Thanks.  I would like to learn it - have a new tool in the toolbox.  I just really struggle with the syntax of SQL - I find it difficult to read/follow.  I use it quite a bit for I/O (not always) and other things.  In fact, in this very project I'm using the table function IFS_READ to read text file template for my request - it's easier to change the file on the IFS than to recompile a program.

I worked this one out by using a combination of two data structures, count prefix, and nested Data-Into operation.  Seems to be working pretty slick and not many lines of code (11 lines with two small DS).

Thanks again to all who replied.  You all are great!

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: RPG400-L <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel Gross
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 10:29 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Options for YAJLINTO to handle a null array

Hi Greg,

I know, I sound like a broken record - and I also know, that many RPG programmers like YAJLINTO to handle their JSON needs - but in the end, using SQL and JSON_TABLE is superior in handling NULL values, empty arrays and all the other edge cases in JSON.

And it's a simple 1-time learning curve to master - but as you can do that interactively, with "Run SQL Scripts" or even STRSQL, you reach your goal quite fast.

If you need any support with that, let me know it.

HTH and kind regards,
Daniel


> Am 24.02.2026 um 16:05 schrieb Greg Wilburn <[email protected]>:
>
> Thank you!
>
> I've tried various iterations of using the countprefix option.  I was just surprised to see the count of the errors array at "1" when it's received as "null".  In this case, I supposed "errors" is present, but the underlying "field" and "messages" are not?
>
> I'm considering creating separate DS for each situation and placing them in nested monitor statements... Or is that "bad form"?
> I would expect to receive a "successful" post of the shipment most of the time.
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RPG400-L <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Martijn van Breden
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 4:38 AM
> To: RPG programming on IBM i <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Options for YAJLINTO to handle a null array
>
> Hello Greg
>
> We ran into this a while ago and experimented with null indicators and so on but that won't work.
> You can use the countprefix keyword instead to handle this. It will be zero with an empty or null array.
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Martijn van Breden
>
> lead software architect
>
>
>
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Greg Wilburn
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301.895.3792 ext. 1231
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