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Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Apr 21, 2022

RPGLE - Prevent using Data Structure as a field

The attached file contains a subset of code with data structure definitions and code using the data structures. RPGLE will allow you to reference the data structure name and treat it like a character field and compile it successfully. I cannot think of an instance where this would make sense in a program. Any data structure reference should end with a subfield. It would be okay for this to be an optional compiler setting through a keyword.
Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    May 31, 2022
    It is a historical feature of RPG that a data structure is also a character string. However, IBM agrees that it would be useful to have an option to disallow this. If this feature is implemented, it would most likely be an option for the EXPROPTS Control keyword.

    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 Power Systems Development
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Apr 27, 2022

    I disagree. Many times the data structure is used as the field. For example when it is used to join several fields. Or when two data structures are used to compare a before and after values in order to check if a break in values have happened.