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Status Delivered
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Sep 16, 2016

RELATED IDEAS

Change the RPG compiler to add an option like ALIGN(*FULL)

The C compiler pads out a struct so that its length is a multiple of its alignment. So if the struct contains a pointer, the length will be a multiple of 16. RPG does not do this, even with the ALIGN keyword, so the RPG data structure might be up to 15 bytes smaller than the C structure. The regex_t struct in qsysinc/h(regex) is an example of this; the C struct is 656 bytes long, but the natural RPG version is only 644 bytes long.
Please change the RPG compiler to add an option like ALIGN(*FULL) to match the C struct.


Use Case:

The new option align(*full) is useful (actually required) when call certain C functions, e.g. regcomp(), from RPG. Without align(*full) the RPG structures are shorter than the C structures, causing problems due to unintentionally changed memory.


Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Mar 30, 2017

    PTFs are available for 7.2 and 7.3 to provide support for a *FULL parameter for the ALIGN keyword. With ALIGN(*FULL), the length of an aligned data structure is a multiple of the data structure's alignment.

    The enhancement is available for 7.2 target release *CURRENT, and for 7.3 target releases *CURRENT and *PRV.

    For 7.2, either get DB2 PTF group SF99702 Level 16, or get PTF SI63821.

    For 7.3, either get DB2 PTF group SF99702 Level 4, or get PTF SI63822 for target release *CURRENT and PTF SI63964 for target release *PRV.

    For more information, see the following page in the RPG Cafe wiki: http://ibm.biz/spring_2017_rpg_enhancements

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Feb 14, 2017

    IBM intends to provide a solution for a future release, and also to provide PTFs for 7.2 and 7.3 timed with a future Technology Refresh. However, IBM's plans may change and no commitment is made that a solution will be provided.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Sep 19, 2016

    IBM will use this request as input to planning but no commitment is made or implied. This request will be updated in the future if IBM implements it. IBM will use votes and comments from others in the community to help prioritize this request.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Sep 17, 2016

    Creating a new RFE based on Community RFE #94630 in product IBM i.

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