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This function is included with IBM i 7.4 release, which will be generally available on June 21, 2019
We delivered the new %PARMS built-in function for ILE CL compiler by PTF SI66721 for V7R3.
%PARMS returns the number of parameters that were passed to the program in which %PARMS is used.
The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a medium priority requirement that should be addressed.
Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community, and has therefore reviewed your RFE.
For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac
For more details about CAAC's role with RFEs, see http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/Blogs/i-Can/May-2017/COMMON-Americas-Advisory-Council-%28CAAC%29-and-RFEs/
Dawn May - CAAC Program Manager
Result of my investigation for CAAC consideration:
I had wondered about how CLP and CLLE programs differ in handling parameters. One of the ways is that CLP requires that the number and type of parameters must match. If you don't do that, you get a CPD0172 message (Parameters passed on CALL do not match those required.).
CLLE seems to be relaxed in this regard, at least as to the number of parameters passed. I seem to recall taking advantage of this, to see what was passed, say, to a command-processing program - I'd declare a single long-enough parameter, then look at it, substring it, whatever.
This isn't possible with CLP, so far as I can tell after a quick test this morning.
Approved for CAAC discussion by Tom Duncan, CAAC member
To add to my previous comment,, this would also necessitate adding a new MINPARMS(n) parameter on the CRTCLPGM command, to specify the minimum number of parameters required for the OPM CLP PGM. The maximum # can be determined by the compiler from the PARM(...) statement, as is done today.
This is needed because the OS checks the number of parameters on any external program call to an OPM *PGM.
I would like to suggest that, for completeness and compatibility, this new %parms() BIF should also be added to and supported in OPM CLP.
This is VERY IMPORTANT because of the devastating nature that passing the wrong number of parameters can cause, such as storage overlays, memory leaks, etc.