RE: %KDS was RE: READE question

[rob@xxxxxxxxx]

Either way will work.  Just a personal preference I guess.
(more comments below sample code)


If x;
 Chain (field1) fileName;
ElseIf y;
 Chain (field1 : field2) fileName;
ElseIf z;
 Chain (field1 : field2 : field3) fileName;
Else;
 Chain (field1 : field2 : field3 : field4) fileName;
EndIf;


Versus


// code here to load the klist data structure

If x;
 numOfKeys = 1;
ElseIf y;
 numOfKeys = 2;
ElseIf z;
 numOfKeys = 3; 
Else;
 numOfKeys = 4;
EndIf;

Chain %kds( klistDS: numOfKeys ) fileName;

In addition, when using a kds I found that I had to do extra evals to move 
the work field into the data structure subfield.  For example
kds.field1 = iim.itemnumber;
kds.field2 = xyz.itemclass;
chain %kds(kds) fileName;
when I could have done
chain (iim.itemnumber : xyz.itemclass) fileName;

What about this:
chain (*blanks) fileName; // compiles fine

Too bad this is unacceptable
chain (*null) fileName; // RNF7072: KFLD at sequence number 158 is POINTER 
but key field is CHAR.
Then you wouldn't have to worry about character vs numeric.  You know 
*LOVAL could be big negative numbers.  Which may, or may not, be an issue.
Rob Berendt