Re: DOW vs DOU- Ha

[Jim Welsh <jimwelsh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John Carr wrote:
> 
> Re: DOW vs DOU
> 
> David, I mean Mr. Phelps
> 
> <THANK YOU,  Checkmate>
> 
> Sorry but your whole mission impossible team was destroyed by just one
> of the benign looking but deadly DOW traps. (Now gather round boys and
> girls there is a valuable lession here)
> 
> Mr. Phelps wrote;
> 
> >Like this, you mean?
> >
> >  KEY       CHAINFILEXXX              90
> 
> >  *IN90     DOWEQ*OFF
> >  XXCODE    ANDNE'B'
> 
> >  XXCODE    IFEQ 'A'
> >            ITER
> >            ENDIF
> 
> > <.... whatever process ....>
> 
> >  KEY       READEFILEXXX                  90
> >            ENDDO
> 
> Whats wrong with this Code?  Look at it carefully.
> 
> If this code is actually run and the program incounters a XXXCODE = A from
> FILEXXX what you will notice is;
> 
> First the lights will dim,  and peoples tubes will seem to freeze,
> and you may not have enough resources to kill this job.  BECAUSE.....
> the ITER opcode branchs TO the ENDDO statement and by passes the READE
> opcode.  Then with lighting speed it will branch back up to the DOW
> statement and test the XXXCODE again, It will still be "A" and the process
> will continue.  The whole program will be PAGED out except for this chunk
> of code and the machine will get Real Good, Real Fast at executing those 4
> statements.
> 
> You in essence have a classic example of an INFINITE LOOP!
> The bottom line is that you CANNOT USE an ITER opcode with the DOW!
> 
> Other than that your code does, how did you say it; "My example matches
> the structure of the code to the structure of the data, whereas yours
>  doesn't.".
> 
> That may be true but mine did have Brevity, and it had Clarity,
> and Succinctness, AND it didn't get into an Infinite Loop.
> 
> In the world of Left hand indicators, GOTO/CAB's and spaghetti code,etc.
> our lofty discussions of "What is Structured Code" often gets drowned
> out by production deadlines, Byzantine standards, and the rest.
> 
> As some french guy said of goverments "Of forms of goverments, let fools
> contest, that which is best adminstered is best"  I believe it's true
> of Code as well. Maintainability is #1.
> 
> Respectfully
> 
> John P. Carr CDP
> EdgeTech
> 74711.77@compuserve.com 804-739-7689
> 
> P.S. I'd like to meet you 3d sometime and have a beer. DOW aside I still
>      Highly respect your opinions!
> thanks for the fun
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> On May 25 1997 John P. Carr wrote:
> 
> >Ok David; (Mr Phelps)
> >
> >Here's your assignment if you chose to accept it, Convert the following
> >code of that infamous DOU connoisseur guy  John Carr to a DOW.
> 
> >Your score will be judged on Clarity, Brevity, and Succinctness.
> >To be especially harsh you cannot code the same IF statement
> >twice(But then, why should you need to?).
> 
> >  KEY      SETLL  FILEXXX
> > *IN90     DOUEQ  *ON
> >  KEY      READE   FILEXXX                 90
> > *IN90     IFEQ   *ON
> >           LEAVE
> >           ENDIF
> >
> >  XXXCODE  IFEQ    'B'
> >          LEAVE
> >          ENDIF
> >
> >  XXXCODE  IFEQ     'A'
> >           ITER
> >           ENDIF
> >< ... end of in-line edits ...>
> >
> > <.... whatever process ....>
> >
> >          ENDDO
> 

I prefer this method John.
Whether to process the record or skip it being determined in a
subroutine. CHKRCD often will have several checks rather than just the
one shown here.

Maybe old habits are hard to break, in any case, i've seen alot worse.
 
  KEY      CHAIN  FILEXXX
  *IN90    DOWEQ  *OFF                        While a record 
  XXXCODE  ANDNE  'B'                         & not code B
           EXSR   CHKRCD                      Check Record   
  GOODR    IFEQ   'Y'                         Process ?
 <.... whatever process ....>
           ENDIF                              End Process
  KEY      READE   FILEXXX                 90 Read Next
           ENDDO 

C* Check Record Subroutine 
  CHKRCD   BEGSR
           MOVE 'Y'        GOODR
  XXXCODE  IFEQ 'A'
           MOVE 'N'        GOODR
           ENDIF        
           ENDSR


-- 
Jim Welsh
Programmer/Analyst
B&B Cash Grocery Stores, Inc.

http://www.netcom.com/~jimwelsh/welcome.html
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