Midrange Guru--Alternate Names for Indicators

I just read the tip to provide alternate names for RPG indicators and thought I'd point out a simpler (and to many RPGers, less scary) approach.

The reader's approach can also be significantly simplified by using this technique, which only requires one pointer and allows for additional indicators to be added to the list.

Thanks for the tips, Jon. Several other readers suggested mapping the address of the *IN array as you did, but you were the only one who suggested using a named constant as an index to the array; therefore your letter was selected for publication.

The first approach has the advantage of involving no pointers. I agree this could be less scary; many RPG programmers are not comfortable with pointers. I don't blame them. I have used pointers for years in Pascal programs and understand them well, yet I avoid them whenever I can find another approach.

I'd like to mention to the readers of this newsletter that Jon will be sharing his vast knowledge at RPG World in Anaheim, California, from November 10 through 12. If you see Jon there, please thank him for his contributions to Midrange Guru and to the iSeries and AS/400 world at large.

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