Category: ZIM 4GL Language Reference

The Original Internet Language

SET EXCEPTION

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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Macros

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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$HelpFile

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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Program Templates and the GENERATE Command

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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How To Use Variables

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).

How To Use Value Expressions

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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How to Use the Report Generator

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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Conditional Expressions

Conditional expressions use the conditional operators to compare operands (typically, value expressions). When evaluated, conditional expressions yield a logical result (true or false), depending if  the condition is satisfied. Conditional Operators Operator Condition Being Evaluated expr = expr The values are equal. expr <> expr The values are not equal. expr < expr The left-hand value is less than the right-hand value. expr <= expr The left-hand value is less…
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Boolean Expressions

Boolean expressions use Boolean operators to compare operands (typically, conditional expressions). When evaluated, Boolean expressions yield a logical result (true or false), depending on the nature of the Boolean operator and the values of the conditional expressions. The standard rules of precedence for Boolean evaluation are used. The software ceases to evaluate a Boolean expression as soon as the final result can be correctly predicted. For example, with OR,…
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Securing Data Inside an Application

Permissions A permission mask is assigned to all application directories, to all EntitySets and relationships, and to all fields in EntitySets and relationships. The permission mask indicates the type of access that particular user IDs are to have to the object. The possible permissions for EntitySets and for relationships are READ, ADD, CHANGE, and DELETE. ADD, CHANGE, and DELETE automatically enable you to…
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