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Developer > RPG

iSeries EXTRA: Using Conditional Compiler Directives

November 2001 | by Susan Gantner and Jon Paris

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The capabilities offered by these compiler directives can be useful when dealing with prototypes for subprocedures. The RPG IV compiler insists that the prototypes
be present in the source that defines the subprocedures. The normal method of handling this is to have the prototypes in a separate source member and /COPY
them into both the source that defines the subprocedures and any other sources that use them. Conditional Compilation Directives can be used to avoid the
requirement for this extra source member. While we don't have room here to show you all the details, Sample 1 is a fully worked example.
What else can these directives be used for? A couple of suggestions follow:
You can maintain a single source for two or more "almost" identical programs. This is much better than cloning the source, since any maintenance changes
need only be made in a single place. For details, see Sample 2.
You can ensure that a /COPY member which is included by multiple other /COPY members is only incorporated into the compile once. For details, see
Sample 3.
You can no doubt think of many other uses for these conditional directives; in fact, we'd love to hear about them. E-mail us with your personal favorites.

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Susan Gantner is a technical editor with IBM Systems Magazine and co-owner of Partner400.
More Articles From Susan Gantner
Jon Paris is a technical editor with IBM Systems Magazine and co-owner of Partner400.
More Articles From Jon Paris

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