RPGtoFREE 

"The easy way to upgrade you existing RPG Code to the new RPG?ILE Free format syntax."


RPGtoFREE is a simple to use yet powerful utility for upgrading your existing Legacy RPG/400 and RPGILE applications to the new V5R1 Free format syntax and thus breaths new life into those old favorites and greatly improve the productivity of developers who write and maintain software on the iSeries

Why convert to RPG Free format?

 As with almost everything in life, things change and new techniques and tools are designed to make our lives easier.  So it is with RPG. IBM designed RPG In the 1960s, and what started out as a basic Report Generation language for punched card systems has now evolved to a language not far different from other programming languages.  The free format syntax has much in common with other popular free format languages like C, or Visual Basic, or Java.  In fact present RPG/ILE has directives that allows it to interface to Java classes.

 It often been said if it “Isn't broken don’t fix it” And we at eBI are true believers of this, but if you desire to keep your old legacy applications intact for the near future but want to take advantage of the new features IBM is offering with ILE, then converting to free format is almost a must. 

 Not to mention that since the free format syntax has so much in common with other free format languages, the transition to other technologies is made significantly easier.

 Perhaps one of the most useful features of the new free format syntax is the use of procedures. Which in some ways is synonymous with C functions.  Procedures allow the programmer to virtually create his own programming language. Much like C or C++ where the language is really quite simple, it’s the library of standard functions that make is so robust, and so likewise now with RPG/ILE and the free format syntax.

 The list of reasons one might want to upgrade could be long, but should you decide to start upgrading your legacy applications to the  new Free format syntax for what ever reason, let RPGtoFREE assist you in that process.  It is cost effective and you will receive an immediate return on your investment.

RPGtoFREE extensive upgrade features are listed below in summarized format.  

q       Move *LIKE defined fields from the Calculation specs to the Definition specs.

q       Move Calculation-defined fields and lengths to the Definition specs.

q       Convert ADD, SUB, Z-ADD, Z-SUB, MULT and DIV operations to EVAL operations

q       Convert MOVE (L) operations to EVAL operations

q       Optionally convert MOVE (L) of *BLANKs or *ZEROs to CLEAR operations

q       Convert SETON, SETOF and COMP operations to EVAL operations

q       Convert the constants of '1' to *ON and '0' to *OFF in indicator operations

q       Convert traditional operations to their corresponding BIFs. For example, SUBST becomes %SUBST

q       Insert file I/O BIFs, such as %FOUND and %EOF, under file operation

q       Move IFxx, DOxxx, WHxx, ANDxx and ORxx expressions to extended factor 2.

q       Document the beginning and ending of IF, DO, DOW, DOU, SELECT, CAS and FOR structures.

q       Convert CASxx operations to SELECT/WHEN structure.

q       Optionally convert subroutines to procedures and convert their corresponding EXSRs to CALLPs

q       Convert asterisk (*) comment designators to slashes (//) comment designators

q       Indent nested logic.

q       Remove specification types from comment lines.

q       Convert most conditioning indicators (left hand) to IF operations.

q       Qualify END operations. For example, an END under an IF becomes an ENDIF


 

 


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