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Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - CL (Control Language)
Created by Guest
Created on May 1, 2020

RELATED IDEAS

Argument for a built-in function can be the result of another built-in function

I would like that the argument for a built-in function can be the result of another built-in function. For example if I was going to emulate a varying length variable then I can only get the total length of the fixed length variable, not the length of the content of the variable.


Use Case:

This example results in an error: "Argument for built-in function %LEN not valid. ".
If &TEXT contains the value "ABCDEF" I would expect &LEN to be equal 6.

DCL VAR(&TEXT ) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(200)
DCL VAR(&LEN) TYPE(*INT)
CHGVAR VAR(&LEN) VALUE( %len(%trimr(&TEXT)))

This is legal but &LEN is 200
CHGVAR VAR(&LEN) VALUE( %len(&TEXT))

So it is not possible to find out the length of the contents this way. Of course %CHECKR could be used in this example. But the RFE is about that the argument for a built-in function can be the result of another built-in function.


Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Dec 1, 2020

    IBM understands this request and will consider it for a future code update, though no commitment is made or implied.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Jun 23, 2020

    The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a medium priority requirement that should be addressed. Keeping CL current and consistent with adding Built-in functions and nested calls, as are possible in other languages, would be beneficial.

    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

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 18, 2020

    Medium:
    The CEAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a MEDIUM priority requirement that should be addressed. CL is an active and maintained language for managing IBM i so it is a good idea to implement more readable and modern BIF to keep complex system control programs working.

    Background: The COMMON Europe Advisory Council (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

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 2, 2020

    I couldn't agree more. With the introduction of built-in functions in the 2000's into CL beyond the handful of original ones, I thought for certain I could specifically, finally do %LEN(%TRIMR(&var)) and recently realized that this implementation too was disappointing. Voted!

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