RPG Freed from the Fetters of Fixed Format - Birgitta Hauser

Finally! The time where RPG was a cryptic, column oriented, hard to decode programming language is over. Beginning with release V5R1M0 free format coding for C-Specs was introduced … but it took until release 7.1 TR 8 (respectively release 7.2) until the H, F, D and P-Specs got a free format equivalent. The complete free format coding includes several simplifications and/or assumptions, for example if not explicitly defined differently a file (F-Spec) is handled as input file. Instead of single characters that had to be coded on a specific position, descriptive keywords are introduced, for examples specific keywords exist for all data types. The sequence of F- and D-specs is no longer mandatory. And with release 7.2 TR 3 the last restriction (RPG source code has to be coded between position 8 and 80) is removed.

Learning Objectives:

In this session you will learn how to code free-format H-, F-, D- and P-Specs beginning with the new DCL-Opcodes, continued with the new keywords for defining data types in stand-alone fields or data structure sub-fields. This session will cover the file definition for keyed or unkeyed access in input and update mode. You’ll also learn how to define all kinds of work fields, constants, arrays, (nested) data structures etc. The coding of (sub-) procedures, prototypes and procedure interfaces are demonstrated as well as the coding of special data structures, such as program status data structure and data areas.