RE: RPG Cycle (was Reinventing Code)

[Colin Williams <Williamsc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Is there any reason why we cant have 30 character variable names in a
future release of RPG. Why the restriction in the number of characters
for RPGIV?

-----Original Message-----
From: Fisher, Don [mailto:DRF@heiligmeyers.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 1999 12:50 PM
To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: RPG Cycle (was Reinventing Code)


Your variable name is too large, Larry.  COBOL limits variable names to
30
characters.  It would have to be something like
"Tot-YTD-Pay-Deducts-before-Tax".

At any rate, that variable name sure beats the RPGIV equivalent of
"TYTDPYDBFT".  And how about the RPGIII name?  Something like "TYPDBT"?

And no, I am not currently writing code in COBOL, nor am I suggesting it
is
superior to RPG.  What I am suggesting is the variable names are easier
to
remember because one has enough characters to make them meaningful.
Thus,
they are easier to remember than their RPG counterparts, in my opinion.

Donald R. Fisher, III
Project Leader
Heilig-Meyers Furniture Company
(804) 784-7500 ext. 2124
Don.Fisher@HeiligMeyers.com

<clip>
ps like who can remember
'total_year_to_date_payroll_deductions_before_taxes'
anyway!
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