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Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Dec 22, 2023

Provide support for null indicators in DATA-GEN in RPG

When generating JSON documents, it is a common requirement to be able to generate data like "field": null. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to do that in DATA-GEN (same problem applies to DATA-INTO in the other direction, but I see there's already an Idea for that.)

This comes up often not only with our commercial products, but also with the open source YAJL project that I work on.


Right now the customer's only option is to generate the JSON document another way, such as SQL or YAJL's subprocedure calls.

All that's needed is to provide a way for the DATA-GEN generator to be able to retrieve the null indicator the value that it's currently processing.

Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 13, 2024
    IBM will use this Idea as input to planning, but no commitment is made or implied. This Idea 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 Idea.

    -IBM Power Systems Development
  • Admin
    Sabine Jordan
    Reply
    |
    Jan 17, 2024

    The CEAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a HIGH priority requirement that is important to address.

    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

    Sabine Jordan + Sara Andres – CEAC Program Manager, IBM

  • Admin
    Carmelita Ruvalcaba Cevallos
    Reply
    |
    Jan 16, 2024

    The CAAC has reviewed this IBM Idea and recommends that IBM view this as a medium priority Idea that should be addressed.

    Based in the usability of DATA-GEN we think this is a valuable idea to be implemented.

    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 IBM Ideas on the broader IBM i community and has therefore reviewed your Idea.

    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

    Carmelita Ruvalcaba- CAAC Program Manager

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Dec 22, 2023

    I agree, it's an important need. Given that the "DATA-GEN" operation code already have possibilities of "num_" and "name_" prefixes for other purposes, something similar should be provided for this limitation.