Re: DDS modernization - use of REFFLD

[rob@xxxxxxxxx]

Here's the rub.  Many people still name their fields based on the file 
they are in.  For example, if I have a field called ITEMNUM in FILEA and 
FILEB they will call it AITEMNUM in one and BITEMNUM in the other.  Rather 
silly.  Especially with prefix, or qualified, now if you are concerned 
about field name collisions.  Even prior to prefix I've seen system i 
vendors who named the field the same.  Naming it the same would allow you 
to:
SELECT SYSTEM_COLUMN_NAME, SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME, SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA
FROM syscolumns 
WHERE SYSTEM_COLUMN_NAME='ITEMNUM' 

I suppose you could alter this to
SELECT SYSTEM_COLUMN_NAME, SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME, SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA
FROM syscolumns 
WHERE SYSTEM_COLUMN_NAME like('%ITEMNUM')

You still can do the DSPFFD on printer and display files.  There's 
currently no plans to convert that to DDL that I am aware of.

Rob Berendt