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Status Not under consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Mar 2, 2025

RELATED IDEAS

Add *NULL as an option for parameter values.

Today we code OPTIONS(*OMIT) on parameters for subprocedures. 

Today we have to test a parameter to see if it was omitted by:

  • Specifying foo('A' : *OMIT : 10); *OMIT on calls to subprocs.
  • Testing if that parameter is "omitted" by comparing its address to *NULL.

I would prefer a more intuitive way to do this. So I propose 2 potential solutions:

  1. Provide an *NULL option on the OPTION keyword on parameters and as a value to be passed on those parameters.
  2. Provide a new built-in function to test a parameter for NULL. Something like %PARMNULL(p3)

Either of these would be okay with me. To be honest, if I was designing it myself, I would do both. Add the *NULL option to the OPTION keyword and create the %PARMNULL built-in function.

 

Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    May 16, 2025
    Thank you for taking the time to submit your Idea. However, IBM does not intend to provide a solution to this Idea at this time, so it is being closed.

    As someone has already commented, there is already a %PASSED built-in function to test whether a parameter is available to be used. And there is a %OMITTED built-in function that can test whether *OMIT was passed for OPTIONS(*OMIT) parameter. See this article in the RPG Cafe for PTF details: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6982093.

    If you want to allow a null-pointer to be passed for your parameter, using OPTIONS(*OMIT) would accomplish the same thing as a new option OPTIONS(*NULL), and passing *OMIT as a parameter would accomplish the same thing as passing *NULL.

    -IBM Power Systems Development
    Reply
  • Guest
    Mar 3, 2025

    you have already %PASSED to test in pretty idiomatic way if a parameter exists (or %OMITTED to check explicitly for omission)

    Reply

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