Record number field size

[GCC Consulting]

> > Quoting GCC Consulting <gcc at optonline.net>:
> > 
> > > I am sure that many of us use a dummy field or long
> > variable to hold
> > > record numbers for lookups.
> > >
> > > rn(8,.0)
> > >
> > > Now if there is a possibility of the record number field 
> size being 
> > > increased by even 1 value, short of defining an edit 
> "recno", would 
> > > the following work?
> > >
> > > Rn(len(@rn),edit(@rn))
> > >
> > > In other words can system field edit values be used in
> > casting dummy
> > > or long variables?
> > 
> > What happened when you tried it?
> > 
> I tried this and it works perfectly.
> 
> Looks like I will ruse this method for declaring record # 
> dummy fields from now on and change declarations if I go 
> back to old code where a record # field is used.
> 
> Richard Kreiss
> GCC Consulting 
> 

Over the years, in conversations with other fp programmers, I have used both
dummy and temporary to refer to the "fleeting" letter designated fields.  

Knowing how the term came into usage would be quite interesting.

Richard Kreiss
GCC Consulting