Re: External DB Description .. [C400-L] ifs help

[Simon Coulter <shc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 02/10/2004, at 2:52 AM, Hatzenbeler, Tim wrote:

> Whats the best way?  The text I have seen recommends GENCSRC for 
> versions
> 5.1 and higher.  But I like the #pragma idea more...
>
> Any thoughs, were at version 5.2

The #pragma mapinc method is a much better idea. It guarantees that the 
file definitions in the program match the definitions in the file.

However, last I knew, the Unix dweebs in charge of the AIX C++ compiler 
port could not fathom how useful that is and did not put support for 
#pragma mapinc in the compiler. I understand they were also intending 
to remove it from the C compiler (I recall some note to that effect in 
the Memo To Users or similar document). That's why the GENCSRC command 
was created as a crappy work around for lost function.

The 530 C-C++ Programmers Guide still shows #pragma mapinc supported 
for C and I could find no mention of it being dropped. However, C++ 
still does not support it.

On version 5 C compilers it seems you can continue to use #pragma 
mapinc. If you intend to convert the C to C++ at some future stage or 
start using C++ (though why anyone in their right mind would do that is 
beyond me) then you should start using GENCSRC. You will have to 
remember to regenerate the include source whenever you change the 
underlying database file.

Appendix A of the C-C++ Programmers Guide says that #pragma mapinc 
cannot generate include files in the IFS. I think that is meant to be a 
warning that if you are using the IFS to hold C-C++ source then you 
should use GENCSRC because #pragma mapinc won't work. I think that is 
probably crap and that creative use of the INCLUDE environment variable 
or symbolic links will solve this but I've had no need to prove that 
supposition.

Regards,
Simon Coulter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   FlyByNight Software         AS/400 Technical Specialists

   http://www.flybynight.com.au/
   Phone: +61 3 9419 0175   Mobile: +61 0411 091 400        /"\
   Fax:   +61 3 9419 0175                                   \ /
                                                             X
                 ASCII Ribbon campaign against HTML E-Mail  / \
--------------------------------------------------------------------