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Status Not under consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Feb 25, 2026

RELATED IDEAS

Typed constants

It is possible to type enumerations, that is, the constants within the enumeration.

However, it is impossible to type a constant outside of an enumeration.


Compilation OK :

//1. Typed & qualified enum

dcl-enum ACTION char(3) qualified ;

  dcl-c SELECT 'SEL' dft ;

  dcl-c UPDATE 'UPD' ;

  dcl-c DELETE 'DEL' ;

  dcl-c INSERT 'INS' ;

end-enum ;

//2. Typed & NOT qualified enum: behaves like typed constants

dcl-enum STATUS char(1) ;

  dcl-c ACTIVE   'A' dft ;

  dcl-c INACTIVE 'I' ;

end-enum ;

//3. Standalone constant

dcl-c STATUS_ACTIVE 'A' ;


Does not compile :

// Standalone typed constant

dcl-c STATUS_INACTIVE char(1) 'I' ;


Would be nice !

Idea priority Low
  • Guest
    Feb 27, 2026
    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.

    Instead, you could define a standalone field with the CONST keyword. The compiler will not allow you to change the value of a CONST field.

    dcl-s STATUS_INACTIVE char(1) inz('I') const;

    - IBM Power Systems Development
    Reply

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