Re: "WordWrap" and temporary s

In-Reply-To: <randall.723872563@seashore> randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea) TITLE: Re: "WordWrap" and temporary string storage In <randall.723872563@seashore> Randall Rhea writes: [Stuff deleted] > One of the things I like about Informix-4GL is that it does NOT > have all them "bells and whistles." This is also why I and many other > people like C. Why have all those huge libraries filled with crud > you'll never use? If you want the bells and whistles, you can always > add them yourself. You can have highlighted display arrays rather > easily using INPUT ARRAY. Yes, it would be nice if the feature > were there with just one command, but it's not that hard to do it > with a little more code. You can simulate dynamic arrays with > temp tables; yeah, I know it's not exactly the same thing, but > it will do in a pinch. And yes, I suppose there's a bug or two > in 4GL, but I know of no bug-free software product. I sorry but this is completely the wrong attitude! The highlight bar in display array is an obvious requirement. The fact that so many people have had to hack together a fix is enough to show that. Dynamic arrays are also a known requirement. To simply say you can simulate it by doing such-and-such is completely wrong. I mean why bother with INPUT ARRAY? With juditious use of INPUT, DISPLAY and SCROLL you could simulate that too. The whole idea is to have a working set of tools that allow you to get the job done with the minimum of fuss. The 4GL "toolset" is good, don't get me wrong, but it's not complete. "Fix it yourself" is not an attitude I like. | I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way -- Jessica Rabbit | |------------------------------------------------------------| | Stuart Hemming | shemminga@cix.compulink.co.uk | | Tudor Labels Ltd | uunet!cix.compulink.co.uk!shemminga | | Roman Bank Bourne | Tel : (+44) 778 426444 | | Lincs PE10 9LQ. UK. | Fax : (+44) 778 421862 | Stuart |8-)