Re: 4 - subfiles

[boothm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I like the page-at-a-time subfiles;  those were the first that I used. 

But when I started writing Visual Age RPG applications I  came to realize 
that a very large fraction of the files in everyday use are 2,500 records 
or less.  Even many of the larger files have logicals over them that make 
the file of actual interest under 2,500 records.   With today's AS/400s 
these load 100% in 5 or 6 seconds.  Add in the speed of the scroll bar and 
page-at-a-time no longer makes sense.   With page-at-a-time subfiles I 
watch users laboriously type in the whole name on the look-up field over 
and over.  I suggest they just type the first 5 letters or so, but as soon 
as I look away they carefully type "Johnson, Dr.  Jonathon R."  and then 
hit the enter key. 

Compare that to the a 100% subfile where the user scrolls to the name and 
clicks and then the default action screen pops opens.  Never key a key, 
never hit Enter, never touch a function key, at least not on the header 
screen; just on the default action screen.  Fast, easy, and accurate, even 
on the factory floor.

That is my opinion fwiw.




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Subject:        Re: 4 - subfiles



Booth,


When I first learned subfiles, I was definately not in the page-at-a-time 
camp;
it may have been a company standard way back when, can't remember.  But 
now,
page-at-a-time is the option I usually consider first.

I guess, IMHO, that I would recommend that you do it "right" with this
relatively simple application and learn the skills so that you'll be able 
to
pull your template out of your bag of tricks when a customer asks for 
something
that calls for it.

- Dan Bale

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