Re: Declaring the same DS in caller and callee

[Barbara Morris <bmorris@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Kurt Anderson wrote:
> ...
> However, I now realize that using D-specs like that is redundant.  It
> really only needs to be done like this:
>      d MyArray         s             10a   based(pMyArray)

Kurt, I think it's a good idea to define the basing pointer explicitly 
even though the compiler will define it for you.

There is a nasty gotcha with based variables defined in subprocedures. 
If you code BASED(globalPointerName), thinking you will base your 
variable on a global pointer, the compiler will define a local pointer 
for you with the pointer name, but in the code, it will appear as though 
the local based variable is actually based on the global pointer.  This 
misunderstanding can cause some interesting debugging sessions.

If you always define the pointer at the same place as you define the 
based variable, you will avoid this kind of problem, especially if you 
always chant this while you're coding the pointer: "The basing pointer 
must be in the same scope as the based variable".