Re: SQR Create Array

[Mark Johnson <markjo@netcom.com>]

Scott,
    I think that I see your problem.  It is probably best to either warn
your programmers about this, or enhance your conventions to take this into
account.  Putting create-array statements in the setup section is a good
idea.  Alternatively, you could have procedures that create arrays have
their procedure names start with 'aa_' (announce array) or have the names
start with an underscore.  Although there always seems to be resistance to
changing conventions, it is usually easier than redesigning a compiler.  
Hope this helps.

Mark

On Fri, 9 Jun 1995, Scott May - SICAS Center - SUNY Oneonta wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> 	Another Programmer here fell into a common pitfall with arrays 
> yesterday, and while I was thinking about it I thought I'd pose this as
> a possible enhancement to SQR at some future date, as well as a technical
> note.
> 
> 	Our Programming Standards require that all procedures are alphabetized.
> A program starts with the Setup and Report Sections and then is followed by
> the procedures in alphabetical order.
> 
> 	If I have an Access Array procedure and a Create Array procedure
> in alphabetical order, the array access statement in the Access Array
> procedure will generate an error stating that the array has not been created.
> The logical calling of these procedures is correct though.  This occurs 
> because SQR did not physically encounter the CREATE ARRAY before the GET or PUT 
> statement.
> 
> 	I make it a standard practice to define all arrays in either the REPORT 
> section, or the Setup section since they are the first two sections in our
> programs, and arrays are most usually global in nature.  I understand compiler
> design enough to know why this occurs, and that there is not a quick 
> modification to resolve this either.  The error can cause confusion if a 
> programmer is not aware of this.
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> Scott May
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