Add TEXT options besides *BLANK for Create Service Program (CRTSRVPGM) Command

.This is available in IBM i release 7.4.

IBM agrees with the request and a solution appears to be desirable and feasible. IBM intends to provide a solution. However, IBM's plans may change and no commitment is made that a solution will be provided.

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 - Application Development
Operating system - IBM i
Source - Other

For recording keeping, the previous attributes were:
Brand - Servers and Systems Software
Product family - Power Systems
Product - IBM i
Component - Languages - RPG
Operating system - IBM i
Source - Other

I am very much in favor of the options *MODULE (for the first or only bound module text) and *EXPORT (not *BND or *BNDSRC). But I would also like to see *SRVPGM to pick up the TEXT from an existing service program, if any, of the same name in the target library before replacement. These three options cover and refer back to the first three parameter names on the command -- which also makes them more self-documenting (i.e., mnemonic).

I tend toward TEXT(*BNDSRC), because the binder source pertains the the exported functions of the service program, whereas any one module's text might not reflect enough of the function of the entire service program.

There is merit to TEXT(*FIRST) - especially in those situations where there is only one module in the *SRVPGM. Although I personally wouldn't probably use it, TEXT(*MODULE) TEXTMOD(module_name) would make the TEXT() support more complete.

TEXT(*CURRENT) would be quite nice.

I think a logical choice is to allow an option to use the text on the binder source member. I definitely would prefer this option. It's explicit and doesn't afford opportunities to be changed by accident--e.g., a when module is added.

Another good option would be *EXISTING to allow the existing comment to be used.

Prefer the *Module option only.

I would like to add: *MODULE or *MODULENAME, which would then require entering a module name to use as the source of the text.

Maybe another parm like Textopt(*text) that also supports the module name whose text you want, plus supports *FIRST and *BNDSRC.

I would really like to see this BUT ...

Personally I don't like the *First, *Last, *Module, and *Modulen options (particularly that last one). They strike me as accidents waiting to happen. Taking it from the binder source would make a lot of sense and, for those who build all SPs from a single module, perhaps *Only would be an appropriate option to have the text taken from a module. Having *First and it only working when using a single module I just don't like - too prone to causing problems later on.