Design question: I am implementing a command in a batch product, and one of the parameters of the command will indicate "does it apply to input or output datasets." What should the keyword for that parameter be? In other words, given a command syntax of
ACCESS XXXXX(IN|OUT) other parameters ... what should XXXXX be? TYPE seems non-specific, "could be anything." DIRECTION seems overblown and over-long. IO(IN|OUT) is kind of confusing. This sounds like a trivial question but I believe in good design and I've been thinking about this off and on for a couple of weeks and have not been able to come up with a good answer. I usually look to the IBM products for examples -- following the IBM lead seems like the principle of least surprise -- but I can't think of any IBM command or macro with a parameter that takes IN|OUT other than ACB MACRF= and MACRF is inappropriate for a command that has nothing to do with macros. Can anyone think of any examples? If you were using this command, what would you "expect" the parameter to be? Thanks, Charles ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
