Coding Standards for Database Files › Coding Standards for RPG III Programs › RPG III Parameter and Key Lists

RPG III Parameter and Key Lists

The names of parameter lists should relate to the program they call. The names of key lists should generally relate to the file with which they are associated.

The following naming convention should be used for key lists and parameter lists:

• List type: ‘P’ for a PLIST, ‘K’ for a KLIST.
• Mnemonic (MMMM):

  

  • For a PLIST, the mnemonic of the program being called
  • For a KLIST, the mnemonic of the format being read
• Suffix (Q): A suffix used to distinguish between lists for the same format/program.

In standard programs, it may however, be more appropriate to name key lists after the role they perform; for example KRST, KPOS.

Note: *ENTRY PLIST statements should be placed at the beginning of the calculation specifications. Other PLIST, KLIST and DEFN statements should be placed at a point just before their first use. This facilitates the copying of code from one program to another.

The *ENTRY PLIST should be labeled to indicate each field’s contents, and whether it is an input or output parameter, or both.