New built-in function %SPLIT.

For more information about the new %LOWER and %UPPER built-in function, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6442065

IBM believes that the request described has been solved and is available with PTFs for 7.3 and 7.4.

7.3
ILE RPG runtime: SI76098 - you need this PTF on any 7.3 system where you run a program with %SPLIT
ILE RPG compiler: SI76100

7.4
ILE RPG runtime: SI76099 - you need this PTF on any 7.4 system where you run a program with %SPLIT
ILE RPG compiler: SI76101
ILE RPG compiler for TGTRLS(V7R3M): SI76109

For more information about the new %SPLIT built-in function, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6442065

IBM agrees with the request and a solution will be available in the future.

For more information about %SPLIT, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6442065.

This request is still a candidate to be an enhancement for the RPG compiler.

The COMMON Europe Advisory Council (CEAC) has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a MEDIUM priority requirement that should be addressed.

Instead of using numerous workarounds it would be great if the %split function would be built into RPG. This would also help to keep RPG modern on the platform.

Background: The CEAC members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CEAC has a crucial 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.

To find out how CEAC help to shape the future of IBM i, see CEAC @ ibm.biz/BdYSYj and the article "The Five Hottest IBM i RFEs Of The Quarter" at ibm.biz/BdYSZT

Therese Eaton – CEAC Program Manager, IBM

Hi,
maybe the new "SYSTOOLS.SPLIT() - UDTF" (v7r3) could help:
Also the newly available dynamic arrays (v7r4) could help adjust the array size

example:
dcl-ds parts dim(5) qualified;
part char(20) inz('');
end-ds;

dcl-s selval char(10);

dcl-s idx uns(5) inz(0);

exec sql
declare c1 cursor for
select cast(element as char(10))
from table(SYSTOOLS.SPLIT('12;12345;Test', ';')) ;
exec sql
open c1;

exec sql
fetch C1 into :selval;

dow SQLCOD=0;
idx += 1;
parts(idx).part = selval;
exec sql
fetch C1 into :selval;
enddo;

exec sql
close C1;

COBOL/400 was mentioned -- which I am unfamiliar with. However, other IBM COBOL dialects support UNSTRING and STRING for their split/parse/join/concatenate functions.

Otherwise, yes, I would like to see something like %split/%join implemented in RPG. However, for a split-type delimiter parameter, a REGEX pattern would also be nice.

I consider the split function to be an standard programming tool, and I'm always disappointed when I'm reminded the hard way that RPG doesn't include it.

I use this function in other languages and would love to see it in added to the list of BIF's. I have needed this function many time and had to do work arounds that cost me time. Adding this brings more validation to the developer languages of the IBM i.

What would be good with this RFE is a BIF that is the opposite function too. Something like %COMBINE. Where it would read an array and then produce a string with a separator that you could supply as a Parm.

Jason

I would love to have this feature in RPG. I use it in many other languages and have found it a great feature. Please consider this as a must for RPG.

THanks

Hoss

@stpmey, if you have a similar requirement for ILE COBOL, you should open a separate RFE. The RFE component for ILE COBOL is "Languages - Other". (Servers and Systems Software > Power Systems > IBM i > Languages - Other)

Not only for RPG but also for ILE Cobol

IBM will use this request as input to planning but no commitment is made or implied. This request will be updated in the future if IBM implements it. IBM will use votes and comments from others in the community to help prioritize this request.

This would be very helpful. The LOCATE function is too cumbersome.

The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a “nice to have” low priority feature. This can be done by any developer, using the %SCAN BIF or the fixed form SCAN opcode. Nevertheless, it would be much easier to have this BIF.

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/

Nancy Uthke-Schmucki - CAAC Program Manager

IBM has received the requirement and is evaluating it. IBM will provide a response after evaluation is complete.

Due to processing by IBM, this request was reassigned to have the following updated attributes:
Brand - Servers and Systems Software
Product family - Power Systems
Product - IBM i
Component - Languages - RPG
Operating system - IBM i
Source - None

For recording keeping, the previous attributes were:
Brand - Servers and Systems Software
Product family - Power Systems
Product - IBM i
Component - Application Development
Operating system - IBM i
Source - None

Please compiler team, don't implement this. This can be done by every developer by themselves. Please concern yourself with the tasks which cannot be done by us developers but only by the compiler team, for example reflection on data structures (determining the structure of a ds at runtime).

I like the basic idea - but not the name. Split just doesn't do it for me. PHP uses Explode when there is a separator involved and that seems a better name to me.