Re: RPG Service Program vs Include Source for Shared Subprocedures and SQL Calls

Folks, 

This whole string is sounding like a really great subject for one of
those IBM webexes...  How about it IBM?  Can we get some people that
know this area to give a nice presentation on how to do it right, with
options, and a really nice handout with samples??? 

DR2

On 2026-03-23 10:27, Charles Wilt wrote:

> I suspect procedure pointers could help with your use case, but would
> likely be a significant refactor.
> 
> If nothing else, you'd need to remove the use of global variables from your
> procedures.  IMPORT / EXPORT exists, but you generally want to stay away
> from them.
> 
> Just to give you an idea..I've got a set of applications.  Most of the work
> is done in a *SRVPGM.  The individual program objects contain the
> procedures with unique functionality.  So each *PGM object has a small
> mainline that sets up various variables and calls into the main *SRVPGM
> procedure passing along the needed PROCPTRs to provide the service program
> access to the needed unique functionality.
> 
> HTH,
> Charles
> 
> On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 8:20 AM Marco Facchinetti <
> [email protected]> wrote:
> 
> Most of the time the correct solution is *Srvpgm, but there are rare
> exceptions where it may be preferable to use the copy version.
> 
> An example in (our) real life is the invoice printing program: since we
> serve multiple customers and each has a specific version that shares 90% of
> the code with the others, the use of copies solved the problem of
> maintaining a common structure and having specific functionality.
> 
> Each shared routine or function contained in the copied members makes one
> or more calls to custom routines/functions at fixed points (start, body,
> and end). The return code of these calls determines whether or not to
> execute the corresponding code in the standard function. This allows custom
> code to replace or supplement the shared code.
> 
> I haven't found a simple way to do this using service programs, especially
> since functions and routines in copied members make perfectly legitimate
> use of the main program's "global" variables.
> 
> The problem with this kind of management where 90% of the code of a program
> is not in the main source is that RDi cannot handle it, this is the reason
> why I uploaded this idea:
> 
> https://ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-4740
> 
> Best regards
> --
> Marco Facchinetti
> 
> Mr S.r.l.
> 
> Tel. 035 962885
> Cel. 393 9620498
> 
> Skype: facchinettimarco
> 
> Il giorno ven 20 mar 2026 alle ore 22:13 Richard Schoen <
> [email protected]> ha scritto:
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> In the Python, Java and .Net world I usually create Python classes, jar
> files or DLLs to contain shared functionality.
> 
> Because most IBMi shops have an interesting mix of RPG code bases I'm
> trying to determine whether I should create a service program or use
> includes for shared functionality at a customer site.
> 
> With service programs, write once, bind and use everywhere.
> 
> With copy books, just include on-the-fly.
> 
> In the past I've leaned towards copybooks, but I'm curious what others
> think.  I'm a little cautious of burying SQL functionality into one or more service programs.
> 
> Real-world thoughts appreciated.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Regards,
> Richard Schoen
> Web: http://www.richardschoen.net
> Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
> 
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