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Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:50 pm
by Roberto Lopez
Hi All,

My first paid (true) job was as RPG programmer on IBM S/36 AS/400 systems.

For 'kids' here (< 40 years old ) I must say that RPG was an horrible programming language.

It has its own 'logic' trying to being always 'looping' to make easier the process of report creation.

The problem is that sometimes (always :) ) you need to do something different than a report in a program, so, you should to 'fight' the language to make it work as you expected (I've exaggerated a little because the angry against 'him' ).

From then (a lot of time!) I've (with a few exceptions) done reports in my applications 'by hand' having total control of the output generated.

While analyzing report manager commented by Rathinagiri, I've realized that could be really useful have one in HMG (and that I should cure myself of my post-traumatic stress case :) )

So, I coded a little and we have now a very early prototype of the 'HMG report writer'! (attached to this message).

Enjoy!

Roberto.

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:37 pm
by Vanguarda
Roberto Lopez wrote:Hi All,

My first paid (true) job was as RPG programmer on IBM S/36 AS/400 systems.

For 'kids' here (< 40 years old ) I must say that RPG was an horrible programming language.

It has its own 'logic' trying to being always 'looping' to make easier the process of report creation.

The problem is that the sometimes (always :) ) you need to do something different than a report in a program, so, you should to 'fight' the language to make it work as you expected (I've exaggerated a little because the angry against 'him' ).

From then (a lot of time!) I've (with a few exceptions) done reports in my applications 'by hand' having total control of the output generated.

While analyzing report manager commented by Rathinagiri, I've realized that could be really useful have one in HMG (and that I should cure myself of my post-traumatic stress case :) )

So, I coded a little and we have now a very early prototype of the 'HMG report writer'! (attached to this message).

Enjoy!

Roberto.
Thanks master, i will test it.

PS: About horrible programming language. For me COBOL and PCL are the most horrible.... :lol:

with best regards,

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:47 pm
by Roberto Lopez
Vanguarda wrote: PS: About horrible programming language. For me COBOL and PCL are the most horrible.... :lol:
I don't believe you... everybody loves those wonderfull things like identification division... environment division.... data division... working storage section... (I've been a COBOL programmer too :) ).

Regards,

Roberto.

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:00 am
by Vanguarda
Hi Master,

I test the lib and it work fine with me.

I like it.

Please, i can say only one suggestion?!

Why you not allow this lib work with array too? Well today when I generate a report, i read the my SQL database and recording the array into a temporary DBF and after print. So we could print the array directly if exist a lib that work with array.

Is only my humble wish...

PS: Sorry my bad english.

With best regards,

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:03 am
by Vanguarda
Roberto Lopez wrote:
Vanguarda wrote: PS: About horrible programming language. For me COBOL and PCL are the most horrible.... :lol:
I don't believe you... everybody loves those wonderfull things like identification division... environment division.... data division... working storage section... (I've been a COBOL programmer too :) ).

Regards,

Roberto.
Sorry master, but it is only my opinion... I don´t like COBOL, it dont is flexible. :oops:

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:14 am
by Roberto Lopez
Vanguarda wrote: Sorry master, but it is only my opinion... I don´t like COBOL, it dont is flexible. :oops:
ehhhh..... it was a joke... I hate it too :)

Regards,

Roberto.

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:16 am
by Vanguarda
Roberto Lopez wrote:
Vanguarda wrote: Sorry master, but it is only my opinion... I don´t like COBOL, it dont is flexible. :oops:
ehhhh..... it was a joke... I hate it too :)

Regards,

Roberto.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:22 am
by Roberto Lopez
Vanguarda wrote: Why you not allow this lib work with array too? Well today when I generate a report, i read the my SQL database and recording the array into a temporary DBF and after print. So we could print the array directly if exist a lib that work with array.
I work with SQL tables too and I retireve as arrays, so I've considered that and I'll surely do (as I've said its a very early prototype yet).

Regards,

Roberto.

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:27 am
by Vanguarda
Roberto Lopez wrote:
Vanguarda wrote: Why you not allow this lib work with array too? Well today when I generate a report, i read the my SQL database and recording the array into a temporary DBF and after print. So we could print the array directly if exist a lib that work with array.
I work with SQL tables too and I retireve as arrays, so I've considered that and I'll surely do (as I've said its a very early prototype yet).

Regards,

Roberto.
Thanks Master.

You are amazing.


with best regards,

Re: Why I hate report generators ? :)

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 2:17 am
by Rathinagiri
Fantastic! No words to thank. :)

It will DEFINITELY be useful to everyone using HMG. Just great.