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Status Submitted
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Nov 10, 2025

RELATED IDEAS

Define a field in a copy source using a field reference file.

I'm missing a way to define a field in a copy source using a field reference file.
It could either be an extended version of LIKE() or a new LIKEFLD()

For example:
dcl-s myField1 LIKEFLD(fldref.format2 : myField : +5)
dcl-s myField2 LIKE(fldref.format1/myField : +5)

Of course fields defined in datastructures should use the same keyword.


The +5 is a length ajustment known from the LIKE() keyword.


Today I have to either hardcode the size of the field or create a template datastructure but the problem using the template is that it defines about 5000 fields. So the latter solution is not used much.

Idea priority Low
  • Guest
    Nov 13, 2025

    Ah, there it was. I couldn't find it. And it didn't appear in related ideas.

    Well, I suggest that you merge them. Because even though they cover the same purpose, they are not entire identical in the way they are described.


    Reply
  • Guest
    Nov 10, 2025
    Your request is a duplicate of IBM Idea IBMI-I-2448.
    https://ibm-power-systems.ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-2448.

    - IBM Power Systems Development
    Reply
21 MERGED

Update RPG compiler to define variables using a means like REFFLD() in DDS

Merged
In DDS you can use REFFLD() keyword to define a field just like an external table field. Please enhance this for individual fields in RPG so that we do not need to add a template table or DS just to define program variables like the database. Use ...
over 4 years ago in IBM i / Languages - RPG 4 Submitted

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