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Status Submitted
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Dec 5, 2024

DATA-GEN multi types (polymorphic) during serialization possibility

Handle cleanly new modern APIs that allows for multiple "types" (say mainstream Microsoft Graph API ) usually inside an array (i.e. array of different things to attach to a chat message etc.).

JSON doesn't restrict particulars types in - say - arrays, it's all about structures.

Would be nice to allow DATA-GEN to follow pointers in a DS using type tagging information to proper deference the structure and serialize it, to allow cases when the type is not clear before runtime. Some solutions outside IBMi world allows for some sort of "bidirectional" type tagging inside the structure (considered out of band).

i.e.

DCL-DS image TEMPLATE QUALIFIED;
base64 VARCHAR(70);
imagetags VARCHAR(10) DIM(10);
extrainfo CHAR(10);
END-DS;

DCL-DS displaycard TEMPLATE QUALIFIED;
from VARCHAR(70);
to VARCHAR(70);
colors CHAR(100) DIM(14);
END-DS;

DCL-DS requestBody TEMPLATE QUALIFIED;
info CHAR(10);
DCL-DS attachments DIM(99);
typeof_substruct VARCHAR(100);
substruct POINTER;
END-DS;

END-DS;

Following the DATA-GEN current strategy would be nice to have an option to allow the serializer to have the intended structure for the pointer, indicating in the DS in the typeof_ field.

i.e. typeof_substruct = 'image' will indicate to treat substruct layed out as image DS during JSON rendering.

DATA-GEN requestBody %DATA(s : 'countprefix=cnt_ renameprefix=ren_ derefprefix=typeof_ ') %GEN('YAJLDTAGEN');

Idea priority Medium