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Status Not under consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - CL (Control Language)
Created by Guest
Created on May 11, 2016

RELATED IDEAS

Provide a default value for the INCFILE parameter of CRTCLxxx commands to search libl for INCLUDE source mbrs in QCLSRC files

The CL INCLUDE command capability is great but a little clunky because the CRTCLxxx commands' default option of INCFILE(*SRCFILE) is a very limiting default option to work with.

In order for the CRTCLxxx commands to search the library list for INCLUDE source members, the user is forced to specify INCFILE(*LIBL/QCLSRC) on every use of the CRTxxx command.


Use Case:

A better default behavior would be to mimic the way the COBOL and RPG compilers work with copy statements. By default they search the library list for the first QCBLLESRC/QLBLSRC for COBOL or QRGPLESRC/QRPGSRC for RPG that has the INCLUDE member in it.

Both PDM and RDi supply a qualified Library/SourceFile name on the compile commands' SRCFILE parameter which will cause the library list not to be searched, even if compiling from QCLSRC.

Attempting to CHGCMDDFT for the CRTCLPGM, CRTCLMOD, and CRTBNDCL commands to INCFILE(*LIBL/QCLSRC) returns an error saying that the INCFILE default can only be another single value (SNGVAL). There is no other one.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:

Provide a single value for the INCFILE parameter on all three CRTCLxxx commands, perhaps something like *QCLSRC, that could be used in a CHGCMDDFT to change the default behavior of the commands.

This change would make the compiler behaviors consistent across the languages on IBM i. It would simplify the development of CL programs that use INCLUDE members.


Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 29, 2021

    IBM does not intend to provide a solution to this request at this time, so it is being closed.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 6, 2020

    This is still on our list for votes and consideration; if it does not have many votes and we won't get to it in the next release or two,

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Dec 13, 2018

    IBM understands request, RFE is reasonable to implement, but it is not yet committed to deliver.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 31, 2016

    The suggestion of the exit program might serve as a short-term workaround, but I don't think it works well as a final solution.

    - The command, in its basic form is not consistent with the method used by the other languages (COBOL and RPG) in their search for copy books / include files. Consistency is really a hallmark of IBM i.

    - It hides implementation details from the user. The command, its help file, and the actual processing of the command are not documented and not obvious.

    - The program would have to check for some criteria so as not to change every command, and checking for the default INCFILE(*SRCFILE) would be the logical choice. However, doing so would eliminate the actual function of *SRCFILE should someone actually want to use it (see next).

    - In my mind, the complete implementation would be to make the following the default action: first, check for the include member in *SRCFILE as is done now; then, if not found, perform a search through QCLSRC files in the *LIBL, as COBOL and RPG do.

    This would not require a new default value. It would be a modification of the process carried out by the CPP using the existing *SRCFILE option, i.e. instead of ending in error if the include member is not found, proceed to the *LIBL/QCLSRC search.

    That process would make development very simple with all the new or modified pieces, including the include files, in a single source file. Those include files would be checked first before heading out to get the production versions in the libl.

    (Then, to be really, really complete, have COBOL and RPG do the first check also before searching the libl... but that is another story.)

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 27, 2016

    Thanks for your suggestions on the CRTCLPGM, CRTCLMOD, and CRTBNDCL commands.
    I understands your requirement. In fact, IBM has supplied one change command exit point - QIBM_QCA_CHG_COMMAND, to allow your exit program to get control and possibly change the command that is used. With the Exit Program registered on QIBM_QCA_CHG_COMMAND, you can change the parameters of CRTCLPGM command to whatever you want. Such as specify INCFILE(*LIBL/QCLSRC) as the parameter. And then, each time you call CRTCLPGM, parameter INCFILE(*LIBL/QCLSRC) will be specified to this command and take effect.
    What do you think about this idea?

    Here is the detail info about QIBM_QCA_CHG_COMMAND:
    http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_ibm_i_73/apis/xcachg.htm?lang=en
    http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_ibm_i_73/rbam6/cmdanalyz.htm?lang=en

    Any further questions are welcome.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 12, 2016

    Creating a new RFE based on Community RFE #88231 in product IBM i.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     May 12, 2016

    I like the suggestion of a single value of *QCLSRC. This makes the request a relatively easy one to implement, doesn't require changing the current command default, but allows INCLUDE to function like COPY in RPG or COBOL.

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