DataTypes as Classes and Structures
Every elementary data type in Encore RPG is supported by a structure or a class in the System namespace. The compiler uses each data type keyword as an alias for the underlying structure or class. For example, declaring a variable with the reserved word Byte is the same as declaring it with the fully qualified structure name System.Byte.
In the .NET Framework, a structure is a value type and a class is a reference type. For this reason, value types such as *Char and *Integer are supported by .NET structures, while reference types such as *Object and *String are supported by .NET classes.
Since every reference type represents an underlying .NET class, you must use the *New special value when you initialize it.
You can also use the *New special value to initialize a value type. This is particularly useful if the type has a constructor that takes parameters.
Related Sections
Value Types and Reference Types
Explains the difference between value and reference types in terms of declaration syntax, usage, and semantics.
Value Types versus Reference Types
Explains the difference between value and reference types, and which data types are which.