Timestamps and V5R1 RPG

August 28, 2002 Timothy Prickett Morgan

Hey, Ted:

I enjoy reading the tech tips in Midrange Guru, especially how to break up a string in Qshell . (You figured that out on a cocktail napkin at a bar, right?)

Craig Rutledge’s recent tip on comparing timestamps in RPG free is a bit too “robust.” To create a timestamp, just do this:

legacy_stamp = %date(legacy_date:*MDY) + %time(legacy_time:*hms);

defined_stamp = defined_date + defined_time;

— Chris

I can’t take credit for the Qshell tip to split up a parameter. As with so many other RPG, CL, OCL, and VB tricks of the trade, I learned that tip from

A CPYF Idiosyncrasy Revisited

August 28, 2002 Timothy Prickett Morgan

Hey, Ted:

I just noticed the article regarding the CPYF idiosyncrasy in January 23 issue of Midrange Guru, OS/400 Edition . The writer wanted to copy records with a user profile field that was equal to CEM.

I had the same problem. To solve it, I defined two variables. The first contained the exact value for which I was looking. I used the Change Variable (CHGVAR) command to set the second variable to the value of the first variable with a ‘!’ character added to the end of text. I used the Copy File (CPYF) command with the Include

Edit with Parentheses in Query/400

August 28, 2002 Timothy Prickett Morgan

Hey, Ted:

Is there a way to make Query/400 place parentheses or angle brackets around negative numbers?

— Chuck

Yes, but I’m not crazy about it.

From the Define the Query panel, select Specify report column formatting. This will show you a list of fields that have been selected for output. Place the cursor on the field that you want to edit and press F16 to specify editing. In the Edit option prompt, choose 1 (Numeric editing choices). Change Show negative sign to Y if necessary. Key an open parenthesis (or left angle bracket) into the Left negative sign field