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James Elser, if the concern is defining the key list in one place, have you considered a %KDS?
IBM does not intend to provide a solution to this request at this time, so it is being closed.
This team has quite a long list of higher priority requirements, so this request is not likely to be implemented anytime soon.
Thanks for the clarification.
It does work to use the chain(key1: key2) File but if I want to change what keys I am using I have to change everyplace this is used instead of just changing the key list in one place.
A free-form key list already exists.
For example
chain (Cust : Invc#) fmt1;
chain (Cust : DtOrder) fmt2;
If this does not satisfy the requirement, please give more information about what you are unable to do.
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
I can't image IBM investing in RPG 3 or even RPG IV anymore; especially when there is a free form solution or two as Barbara and Mark pointed out.
Why don't you read these resources to learn more about how to do what you want to do. Note how long ago they were written.
https://www.mcpressonline.com/programming/rpg/techtip-no-klist-what-do-i-do-now
https://www.rpgpgm.com/2015/01/how-to-replace-key-lists.html
https://www.tug.ca/tec/Sessions/Handouts/PDF/23A-RPGTipsAndTechniques.key.pdf
with the last one look at slide 24.
Please don't take this terse post as a rebuke, and please keep making suggestions that will improve programming.
And if you want to use a data structure, you would do it like this:
dcl-ds key1 LikeRec(: *key);
dcl-ds key2 LikeRec(: *key);
...
chain key1 Fmt1;
chain key2 Fmt2;
I don't think this RFE would be an effective use of development resources, given the existing flexibility that the free-format CHAIN affords. As for sorting subfile columns in different sequences, this might be better achieved using embedded (dynamic) SQL.
It is already possible to specify a list of keys in free-form using the same key in different lists.
CHAIN (Cust : Invc#) Fmt1;
CHAIN (Cust : DtOrder) Fmt2;