Free Form RPG Opinions Wanted

["Jon Paris" <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 >> There is absolutely no good reason, and no defensible rationale, for a
BIF put into free-form to not be included in RPG IV.

Sorry Joe - but I have to disagree on this one.

All of the new BIFs that can fit (e.g. %Date, %Diff, etc.) plus qualified
names and a bunch more are indeed supported in the semi-free (i.e.
EVAL/CALLP).  The only ones that are not supported are ones for which there
is a perfectly good reason not to support them other than in  /Free - the
darned things don't fir and/or have no place to put the required new
parameter (read factor).  Many of the new BIFs in V5R2 related to IO
operations don't "fit" in fixed form.  Take %Fields for example - where
exactly do you put it?

I think they did a good job of enabling the bulk of the new function in the
old format.  /Free has allowed them to expand the boundaries of the
language.

Jon Paris
Partner400
www.Partner400.com