Any value expression used in an application – including the names of objects that represent values – must conform to one of the available data types. Data Types and Objects Objects that represent values (constants, variables, fields and form fields) have an explicit data type attribute defined in the Object Dictionary. Value expressions that are not defined objects take implicit data types. The data type of…
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Output masks are employed to format the output of fields, form fields, and data values in output operations. The MASK format option in Zim Reports specifies an output mask pattern for a report item. The $mask function specifies an output masking pattern to be applied to fields, form fields, and data values and returns a character string with the result of the masking operation. The Field Mask attribute defines the expected output format of a field’s data value…
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Any meaningful combination of the following options can be applied to any value displayed in a report: CENTER The Report Generator is to center the associated item on the current line. Centering is relative to the PAGEWIDTH specified in the REPORT FROM command. The default value for PAGEWIDTH is 80. COLUMN n The Report Generator is to start display of the associated item at character column n. COLUMN…
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Triggers an exception handler in the absence of an exception condition. Syntax SET EXCEPTION condition Parameters condition Can be BREAK Mimics a terminal or process “break” condition (i.e., the user pressing the “break” key). DEADLOCK Mimics a deadlock in a multi-user system. Does not abort the current transaction. ERROR Mimics an error condition. WARNING Mimics a warning condition. Comments A SET EXCEPTION command mimics…
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A macro is a dynamically declared name that represents a character string. When a macro call is encountered in an application program the macro call is replaced by the current character string value of the macro. Macros are sometimes called replacement parameters or substitution variables. The following topics discuss how to work with macros in applications: Availability of macros How macros acquire values Macro Substitution Macros and…
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The name of the file containing the online help. Syntax $helpfile Return Value A character string. Can be reset by an application program. Description $HelpFile gives the name of a file containing online help topics. Set by the application program to the name of a file containing the online help information. By changing the value…
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Although every application has its own unique requirements, the individual components of applications are often very similar. For example, menus, pop-up windows, and data entry forms and displays are common components of most applications. Pop-up windows, for instance, can vary in size, location and contents, but the commands to present them to the application user and to process the result of user interaction are…
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A variable is a programming object defined in the Object Dictionary for the application. Variables are used to store values temporarily during an application session. A variable is assigned a size and a data type in its definition, but until assigned a value during an application session, the variable is valueless (that is, $Null).
Value expressions represent character or number values. A value expression is an expression that, when evaluated, yields either a number or a character string. Value expressions are subdivided into atomic expressions arithmetic expressions functional expressions A value expression can be very simple, containing only one argument. Such expressions are called atomic expressions. An atomic expression…
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The Report Generator takes a report specification and creates a report for viewing or printing. The elements that must or can be provided to the Report Generator in the report specification are set of records page structure report headings and footings page headings and footings break headings and footings item position and format How To Construct Report Specifications A report specification is a series of commands that describe the set of data to be used in the report, the values to be extracted from the data set, and the formatting to be applied to each value and to the report in…
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