When Peoplebooks Is Not Enough
Archive for the ‘Practices’ Category.
Last year I wrote about the similarity and superiority of the SQR evaluate command compared to the C or Java switch command in SQR Evaluate Versus C/Java Switch, part 1 and part 2. Here is another way to extend evaluate functionality.
Continue reading ‘Evaluate Two Values At Once In SQR’ »
What is the relationship between SQR and Application Engine? Is one better or are they complementary? They are both frameworks for batch processing in the Peoplesoft environment. As such, they must have overlapping functionality. Like Star Trek and Star Wars, they each have fans and detractors, with not always rational reasons for their preferences.
Continue reading ‘SQR Versus Application Engine’ »
Peoplesoft HCM (HR, BA, PR, and TL) comes with at least 1300 run control records, yet my organization has added 2% more over the past ten years. We’re not running out of table space or disk space, but we probably did more work than we needed; creating new records, tables, and pages. For that matter, Oracle probably did more work than they needed, not reusing their run control objects.
Continue reading ‘Re-Use Peopletools Run Control Objects’ »
Even batch programs have user interfaces. They start with actual or implied inputs (run control parameters in Peoplesoft). They end with actual or implied outputs (reports, log files, Process Monitor messages). We shouldn’t take these elements of program design for granted, even in the simplest programs.
Continue reading ‘Batch User Interfaces’ »
Last week I paid tribute to Elements of Style. The lesson from that book that impressed me most was to simplify my prose; minimize adjectives and adverbs; replace clichéd phrases with single words; avoid passive voice and inverted sentences; be terse and direct. I recommend the same for programming.
Elements of Style is the famous book by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White. First written in 1918, it is a guide to writing well in American English. Anything good about the prose on this blog should be credited to Strunk & White. The flaws must be ascribed to me. This week’s blog entry is dedicated to that short book.
Continue reading ‘Elements of SQR Style’ »
I’ve written about variables several times (notably in Bottom #Ten Worst Variable Names and SQR Without Literals), but a recent entry on a new blog gave me a new way to think about them.
Continue reading ‘SQR Variable Roles’ »
It’s not New Year’s Eve, but I have some resolutions to use more of the rich features of SQR to write programs that are richly featured themselves.
Continue reading ‘4 SQR Resolutions’ »
Most people are more in favor of comments than they are in favor of writing comments. Most code doesn’t have enough comments, and the comments it has are often bad comments. Here are seven types of comments, listed from my favorite to my most disliked. Continue reading ‘7 Comments About Comments’ »
The only aspect of an SQR program that must be unique is its file name. The file name may also indicate something about the program within. There are restrictions on SQR program file names in the Peoplesoft environment, but there’s more flexibility than meets the eye. Continue reading ‘SQR Program File Names’ »