Re: 4GL Function Tools needed

* Alexander J. Oss (alex.oss@films.com) wrote: * * : I highly recommend writing functions to manipulate strings * : in C and accessing them through 4GL. I do the same thing * : to access the open(), read(), and close() system calls * : since if I need to read a file (like a fixed-field, * : no-delimiter mailing list file off tape) 4GL can't do * : it (!). * * Wrong! It's not elegant but we once had to read a stream file from * an outside system and off the cuff we wrote a ten line 4GL that * coped well. Basically set up a prompt statement for CHAR in a * while loop and place the 4GL file in a Unix pipe e.g. * * cat stream_file | fglgo my_prog * * Later, the C version ran 15 times quicker, but we proved it could be done! This method (the PROMPT redirect) was in an Informix 'Tech Notes' manual which I can't seem to find right now to tell you what volume. There was another method using the INPUT statement which took a line at a time but needed to be followed by a ^M at the end of each line. Robert Minter Data Systems Support \\\\\\_/// Senior Software Engineer A Client Technologies Company ( _ _ ) E-Mail: rob@dssmktg.com Tel: 714.771.0454 (| ^ |) #include <disclaimer.h> Fax: 714.771.3028 \\`-'/ De Colores - Emmaus OC-13 SURF'S UP \\_/