The only alternative (as seen from the principle of least astonishment) I can think of is using the explicit option "NULL" - assuming that value is never a "real" option.
(With the alternatives "thing2(option1)" and "thing2(option1,*)" I would have presumed that the first was null for option2 and the second was "global" for option2.) BTW, In rexx if you check for an existing parm would "rexxfunc(arg1,,arg3)" have a *non-existing* arg/parm nr 2 but "rexxfunc(arg1,'',arg3)" would have and *existing*, but "empty" arg/parm nr 2. Regards, Thomas Berg -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Från: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu] För Phil Smith Skickat: den 19 mars 2012 22:13 Till: IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu Ämne: Theology question In our configuration data set, you can specify a default, global value for something. Specific entries in the configuration can override that global value. However, there are cases where you *must* specify a null value on a specific entry, as if you had no default, global value. Our internal debate is over whether an asterisk is appropriate to say "No, really, don't use any value here". So examples might be: thing1(option1,option2) /* This defines a thing with an explicit option1 and explicit option2 */ thing2(option1) /* This defines another thing and says "use the default, global value for option2 if you have one" */ thing3(option1,*) /* This would define another thing and say "even if you have a default, global value for option2, pretend you don't" */ thing4(option1,'') /* This is an alternative form of thing3 */ One of us feels that the asterisk should mean "use the global default". One of us feels that the double quote is ugly and error-prone. Based on the collective wisdom of the centuries, what *feels* right to you? -- ...phsiii Phil Smith III p...@voltage.com<mailto:p...@voltage.com> Voltage Security, Inc. www.voltage.com<http://www.voltage.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
