I posted this question on SAGL and didn’t receive a response, so I’ll try here.

Listed at the bottom of this post are examples of two ways that parameters have been declared in subprograms that the Programmers have created for me. When I create the IDL files and the java wrapper, example 1 is much easier for me to consume. Example 2 is easier for the Programmer for obvious reasons. (MOVE BY NAME, etc.)

I have no problems with example 1, but in the past when I get an subprogram that looks like example 2, I’ve done 2 things:

Option 1: Modify the IDL file to remove the group name and put all parameters as a level 1.

or

Option 2: Leave IDL file as is, and programatically handle the additional complexity of the group in my java “proxy” program.

So here’s the real question:
For subprograms that I’m trying to expose as java wrappers or web services using EX, do I ask the Programmer’s to send and receive parameters level one, or do I just tough it out on the java/web service side and handle the complexity with the level 2?

Any advice on experiences with this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Example 1
DEFINE DATA
PARAMETER
1 EMPL-ID A(5)
1 FIRST-NAME A(18)
1 LAST-NAME A(18)
END-DEFINE

Example 2
DEFINE DATA
PARAMETER
1 EMPLOYEE
2 EMPL-ID A(5)
2 FIRST-NAME A(18)
2 LAST-NAME A(18)
END-DEFINE