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Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Jan 28, 2025

Allow Subprocedure Exported Name to appear on the EXPORT keyword of DCL-PROC

When building RPG IV modules, the export name of Subprocedures must appear on the Prototype's EXTPROC keyword. If there is NO prototype, it may appear on the DCL-PI's EXTPROC keyword. However, if there is no Parameter List, often the DCL-PI does not exist. The Prototype only exists so caller's can access the subprocedure in "this" linked module or *SRVPGM.

 When I build code, I create the *MODULE object and include the /INCLUDE of the prototype to verify that it is in sync with the subprocedure implementation. 

However, if I specify EXTPROC('myFoo') on the prototype and on the implementation I get a compiler error. 

This moves the naming of the subprocedure (as exported away from the implementation. 

I want an "export as" capability on the implementation body and the intuitive place it should go is on the EXPORT keyword. 

Right now I have to depend on the Prototype being specified and /INCLUDE'd into the implementation source, or use EXTPROC on the DCL-PI which may not exist. 

One centralized way to specify the name while developing code, vs the external way (using the Prototype and the EXTPROC) is needed.

  // SRCMBR(MYPROTOS)
  dcl-pr MYFUNC EXTPROC('sendCGIHeader');
  
  // SRCMBR(CGIHELPERS)
  
   dcl-proc sendCGIHeader EXPORT('sendCGIHeader');
   
    // body of implementation goes here.
   end-proc;
    
Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    May 15, 2025
    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.

    However, if this Idea is implemented, the change will most likely not be a parameter on the EXPORT keyword.

    Instead, the compiler would most likely allow the EXTPROC keyword to be specified for the Procedure Interface of a procedure that has a prototype as long as the EXTPROC parameter matches the external name established by the prototype, either by an explicit EXTPROC keyword, or the uppercase version of the name if the EXTPROC keyword is not specified.

    -IBM Power Systems Development