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Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on May 26, 2023

RELATED IDEAS

Merged idea
This idea has been merged into another idea. To comment or vote on this idea, please visit IBMI-I-1111 Option for EXTNAME/LIKEREC(*NULL) to create SQL-type int(5) indicator subfields.

Add a NULL (nullable) Attribute and related built-ins to Fields in RPG IV Merged

The pervasive use of SQL in RPG IV along with the habitual use of NULL-capable fields justifies adding a ALLOW(*NULL) keyword to stand-alone fields, data structure subfiles, as well as parameters. It would be used on things like the SQL FETCH clause to allow Developers to avoid having to code a second 2-byte int and then check it for negative or positive values.

A new built-in function: %IsNull would be a huge get. After a FETCH operation, we could easily determine if a value is null. Today, the FETCH INTO :SalesID :salesIDnullIndy syntax is vexing at best, error-prone and not inviting. Code can run for "centuries" and then suddenly one day issue a "NULL Indicator required for column SALESID in blah, blah blah." message. Clearly this is a developer error, but in RPG, this should be easier to manage. I would rather just add an ALLOW(*NULL) keyword to the host variable definition and then issue an %IsNULL (or ignore it) and be done with it. Instead, today I have to:

  • Understand I need to define a 2-byte integer.

  • Add that 2-byte int as a value between the SALESID field and the next fields on the FETCH.

  • Check that 2-byte int field is negative value to determine if it is null.

vs

if %isNULL(SALESID); ...

Idea priority Low
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 31, 2023
    Many aspects of this Idea are already supported in RPG using the NULLIND keyword and the %NULLIND built-in function.

    One aspect of this Idea that is not supported in RPG is the ability to use SQL-style null-indicators which are 2-byte integers.

    There is an existing Idea, IBMI-I-1111, requesting support in RPG for SQL-style null-indicators. The title of that Idea is "Option for EXTNAME/LIKEREC(*NULL) to create SQL-type int(5) indicator subfields", but if the Idea is implemented, it would also be possible to request SQL-style null indicators for stand-alone fields and data structure subfields.

    Therefore, this Idea is being closed as a duplicate of Idea IBMI-I-1111.
    https://ibm-power-systems.ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-1111

    - IBM Power Systems Development

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