Add Joblog Messaging Built-in Function to RPG IV

IBM believes that the request described has been solved and is available with PTFs for 7.3 and 7.4 with the new SND-MSG operation code. See https://ibm.biz/rpgcafe_spring_2022_new_messaging_opcodes

7.3 PTF for the RPG compiler: 5770WDS SI79717
7.3 PTF for the RPG runtime: 5770SS1 SI79656

7.4 PTF for the RPG compiler: 5770WDS SI79711
7.4 PTF fr the RPG compiler with TGTRLS(V7R3M0):: 5770WDS SI79719
7.4 PTF for the RPG runtime: 5770SS1 SI79655

Note: You need the PTF for the RPG runtime on any system where you run a program with the SND-MSG operation code.

If this feature is implemented, it will most likely be in the form of a new operation code rather than a built-in function.

- IBM Power Systems Development

Hi Barbara,
%SNDMSG() or similar with no substitution values at all would be a "B" solution, while one with substitutions would be an "A".
But the need is there to go onto anyone's system and write code and use %JOBLOG() (or whatever) and write text to the joblog. If I have to use + and %TRIM() to do it, then so be it.
Also, I know about the %CHAR(%date()) thingy. I just have a "tic" when I see a colon followed by a percent sign :) (But you already know that.) ... %joblog('Hello %s. It is %s o''clock' : Usrprf :%char(%time():*USA));

If you use %CHAR for non-character parameters, you can use POINTER-VALUE-OPTIONS(*STRING) for all the parameters, and use %s for all the parameters in the template.

myJoblogFunc('Today is %s and it is %s degrees in %s' : dayofweek : %char(temperature) : city);

Or, instead of supporting multiple parameters for your wrapper, just support a single string and use RPG's concatenation.

myJoblogFunc('Today is ' + dayofweek + 'and it is ' + %char(temperature) + ' degrees in ' + city);

If RPG adds a new opcode or build-in function for this, it wouldn't have parameters like the printf-type parameters %s and %D. It would just have a single "message" operand. You'd have to build up the message using concatenation.

Note that (A) The NEWLINE character is X'25' and (B) that RPG does not have a way to support ... parameters from C-based APIs.
The ability to pass Date/Decimal/Integer/Char Strings is currently not possible.

dcl-s dayofWeek varchar(10) Inz('Tuesday');
dcl-s temperature packed(5:2);
dcl-s city varchar(25);
myJoblogFunc('Today is %s and it is %D(5,2) degrees in %s' : dayofweek : temperature : city);

Please show me how I can easily achieve this using today's RPG IV? The implementation either needs 21 quintillion variations of the prototype and OVERLOAD statement for which I would speculate RPG wouldn't be able to handle, or we need to limit it to just text/character parameters.

If you mean you are going to provide an RPG IV version of sprintf() to RPG IV, and I can use the result of that in a future %MSG Built-in, I accept that solution path. But if you're expecting us to do something we can't, I do not accept the user-written Qp0zLprintf approach as a solution.

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

Note that it is unlikely that the %JOBLOG aspect would be implemented. That can easily be achieved by writing a procedure to wrap the Qp0zLprintf() API.

For example:

dcl-proc joblog export;
dcl-pi *n;
msg pointer value options(*string);
end-pi;
dcl-c NEWLINE const(x'15');
dcl-pr Qp0zLprintf int(10) extproc(*dclcase);
*n pointer value options(*string);
*n pointer value options(*string:*nopass);
end-pr;
Qp0zLprintf('%s' + NEWLINE : msg);
end-proc;

The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a medium priority requirement that should be addressed. This would simplify error and message handling, which are both important practices to follow.

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 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.

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 - Programming Languages
Product - Developer for Power Systems
Component - RPG/COBOL Development Tools
Operating system - IBM i
Source - None