Re: Is this the Free-Format that we asked for?

[Jim Langston <jimlangston@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John,

I have used languages that do not require an end of statement terminator, such
as QuickBasic, dBase and Clipper

I have used languages that do require an end of statement terminator, such as 
C, Pascal and Perl

I did not like having to use an underscore in QuickBasic and Clipper to 
continue a line. _

I did not mind using a semicolon in C and Pascal to terminate a line;

I hate having to use a C in RPG on every line, makes for ugly code.

The fact is, the semi colon is not superficious.

How would you code this without being able to use a semi colon?

a = 0;  b = 0;  c = 0;

Without the statement terminator, I now have a limit, one statement per line.

a = 0
b = 0
c = 0

Regards,

Jim Langston

John Taylor wrote:
> 
> Richard,
> 
> Thank you for taking the time to elaborate on your statement.
> 
> > If the explicit statement terminator is not available, statements either
> > trickle off the right for a long ways (hard to read, understand, view,
> etc)
> > or their meaning is not ambiguous - they may be interpreted in multiple
> > ways.  Some of the rules needed to make the statement have a definite
> > meaning may be less desirable than the semicolon.
> 
> I just don't see any evidence to support this. Have you had an opportunity
> to use a language that doesn't require an explicit statement terminator? If
> so, did you really notice any of the aforementioned problems.? I have a
> number of years of experience using non-terminated languages under my belt,
> but I haven't run across those issues.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> John Taylor
> Canada
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