Debugging External User-Defined Functions

If you're an avid SQL developer, no doubt you've delved into writing some of your own external user-defined functions (UDFs). An external function is a UDF that is written in a high-level language, like RPG or COBOL, as opposed to an SQL function, which is written in the SQL Procedure Language (SPL). While external UDFs are great when they work, they can be a chore to debug.

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Running Client Commands under FTP

Hey, Ted:

FTP's cd command changes the working directory on the server machine. The lcd command changes the working directory on the client machine. The ls and dir commands show the contents of the working directory on the server machine. But there are no lls and ldir commands to show what's in the working directory of the client machine. Do you know of an alternative?

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Reader Feedback and Insights: Pondering the Meaning of 'Contiguous'

Hey, Ted:

In "Resolving Field Names at Runtime, Part 2," you wrote that both Efran and Jan assumed the fields were contiguous in the physical file. I'm no expert, but I happen to know something about this because I was part of a discussion recently on the Midrange-L mailing list.