Using QMF Version 7.2 objects under earlier releases

This is largely preventive. While there is still a chance for fallback, make certain that your users understand the compatibility rules given previously in this appendix. If you have not looked at these rules already, read Migrating QMF objects.

If you fall back to the earlier QMF release, some objects created under QMF Version 7.2 cannot be used in the earlier environment. Consider this when planning for a possible fallback. The following list contains the restrictions that apply when you use some Version 7.2 objects in earlier releases.

• Forms

  Form objects that are saved or exported from Version 7.2, and displayed or imported to earlier releases of QMF, can be expected to execute normally. However, form objects saved or exported from Version 7.2 cannot be used in Version 2.4 or earlier.

  Before they can be used in earlier applications, forms exported from Version 7.2 that use break field numbers (or the object level in the header record) require the Form Application Migration Aid, as described in Form application migration aid.

• Queries

  Some restrictions apply to Version 7.2 queries for fallback to earlier releases:

  • SQL queries: You can export SQL queries from Version and import them on earlier releases, and they execute normally. However, SQL queries saved on Version 7.2 cannot be used in Version 2.4 or earlier.
  • Prompted queries: You can display and import Version 7.2 prompted queries in earlier releases provided they do not contain variables, or expressions with more than the old 55 or 65 character limit.
  • QBE queries: Queries created with QBE (Query-by-Example) saved or exported in Version 7.2 can be displayed or imported in earlier releases and execute normally.
• Procedures

  Procedure objects exported from Version 7.2 can be imported into earlier releases, and they can be run if the new QMF commands or command syntax are not used. Procedure objects saved with Version 7.2 cannot be displayed with earlier releases unless you first export them from Version 7.2 and import them into the earlier release. Procedures with logic, that is, procedures that contain REXX logic, cannot be displayed or imported in releases earlier than Version 3.

• Procedures or applications containing QMF commands that cannot be run under the earlier release

  These commands might fail to run for a number of reasons. See Using QMF Version 7.2 commands under earlier releases for details.

• Applications that call the callable interface

  Applications call the callable interface in their CLISTs and programs to call QMF. The callable interface was introduced for Version 2.4, so applications running with earlier versions of QMF cannot use it.

For specific differences between an earlier QMF release and QMF Version 7.2, compare the two releases of the QMF Reference manual.