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Status Submitted
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Jul 31, 2026

RELATED IDEAS

Provide a DCL-DEFN and END-DEFN block to define stand-alone fields without DCL-S

When declaring many fields in RPG IV, today we have to code DCL-S on every field name.It would be great to be able to do something similar to what we do with DCL-DS / END-DS and have a declarative block or "definition" block to define regular fields in this context. The idea is that we would have a "DCL-DEFN" and "END-DEFN" block and all entities between them are declare as if they each had their own "DCL-S" prefix. Note due to formatting challenges in this editor, I've also pasted in the code example as a .PNG image.dcl-defn; seqnbr int(10); custNbr packed(7 : 0); custname varchar(30); notes varchar(50); YTD_Sales packed(9 : 2); last_sales_date date; end-defn;

DCL_DEFN.png
DCL_DEFN.png
Open full size
Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Aug 19, 2026

    Thank you for taking the time to submit this IBM Idea and share your feedback with IBM and the broader IBM i community.

    The CAAC has reviewed this Idea and, after careful consideration, does not recommend that IBM move forward with the request in its current form at this time.

    Reason: The CAAC did not identify sufficient community-wide value in introducing an additional syntax for declaring stand-alone fields. The existing DCL-S syntax clearly identifies each field as a stand-alone variable. A DCL-DEFN and END-DEFN block could be mistaken for a data structure, potentially making RPG code less immediately clear for both new developers and those maintaining unfamiliar code.

    Although the CAAC is not recommending implementation of this request, Ideas such as this help IBM and the CAAC better understand the needs and priorities of the IBM i community. We appreciate your contribution and encourage you to continue submitting IBM Ideas and sharing your feedback.

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) includes members with a broad range of experience working with small and medium-sized IBM i clients. The CAAC works with IBM i development to help assess the potential value and impact of individual IBM Ideas on the broader IBM i community.

    For more information on the CAAC, visit: https://www.common.org/common-americas-advisory-council/

    Brandon Pederson - CAAC Program Manager

    Reply
  • Guest
    Aug 17, 2026

    Yes, it is like a non-QUALIFIED data structure, expect each variable is a stand-alone field instead of part of a data structure.

    Reply
  • Guest
    Aug 6, 2026

    Its like declare a no-name data structure without qualified keyword

    Reply

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