Bakken Software Services

Tips & Tricks - Pick Basic INCLUDE Statement

Here's a technique that will not only speed development of your application programs, it will also provide consistency
throughout your programs, while documenting the file structure at the same time.

Create a program file specifically for code which will dimension file arrays and equate variable names to the individual fields or attributes within a record. This code will be 'included' in the application programs when they are compiled. The following is an example of code which dimensions the CUSTOMER file and equates variable names to the individual fields within a record. It exists in a program file called FILE.DEF

Example:

FILE.DEF CUSTOMER

001	* DIMENSION AND DEFINE CUSTOMER FILE
002	DIM CUSTOMER.REC(10)
003	EQUATE CUST.NAME TO CUSTOMER.REC(1)
004	EQUATE CUST.ATTN TO CUSTOMER.REC(2)
005	EQUATE CUST.STREET TO CUSTOMER.REC(3)
006	EQUATE CUST.CITY TO CUSTOMER.REC(4)
007	EQUATE CUST.STATE TO CUSTOMER.REC(5)
008	EQUATE CUST.ZIP TO CUSTOMER.REC(6)
009	EQUATE CUST.PHONE TO CUSTOMER.REC(7)
010	EQUATE CUST.FAX TO CUSTOMER.REC(8)
011	EQUATE CUST.OPEN.INV TO CUSTOMER.REC(9)
012	EQUATE CUST.AR.BAL TO CUSTOMER.REC(10)


This code is then 'included' in the individual application programs which reference the CUSTOMER file. An example is shown in the CUST.MNT program below.

BP CUST.MNT

001	PROGRAM CUST.MNT
002	* CUSTOMER MAINTENANCE
003	* KPB 08/24/01
004	*
005	INCLUDE BP STND.VAR
006	INCLUDE FILE.DEF CUSTOMER
007	*
008	* BUILD SCREEN VARIABLE FOR DISPLAY OF FIELD HEADINGS
009	*
010	SCR = @(-1):@(3,3):"CUSTOMER CODE":@(1,5):"1.NAME":@(1,6):"2.ADDRESS"
011	SCR = SCR:@(1,7):"3.CITY":@(1,8):"4.STATE":@(1,9):"5.ZIPCODE":@(1,10):"6.TELEPHONE"
012	SCR = SCR:@(1,11):"7.FAX"
013	*
014	50 *
015	*
016	* DISPLAY SCREEN
017	*
018	CRT SCR
019	*
020	* ENTER CUSTOMER CODE
021	*
022	CRT @(30,3):
023	INPUT CUSTOMER.KEY
024	*
025	* DETERMINE IF THIS IS A NEW OR EXISTING CUSTOMER
026	*
027	MATREADU CUSTOMER.REC FROM CUSTOMER.FILE, CUSTOMER.KEY THEN
028	CRT @(30,5):CUST.NAME:@(30,6):CUST.ADDRESS:@(30,7):CUST.CITY
029	CRT @(30,8):CUST.STATE:@(30,9):CUST.ZIP:@(30,10):CUST.PHONE
030	CRT @(30,11):CUST.FAX:
031	END ELSE
032	GOSUB 100;* ENTER NAME
033	GOSUB 200;* ENTER ADDRESS
034	GOSUB 300;* ENTER CITY
035	GOSUB 400;* ENTER STATE
036	GOSUB 500;* ENTER ZIPCODE
037	GOSUB 600;* ENTER TELEPHONE#
038	GOSUB 700;* ENTER FAX#
039	END
040	*
041	* ENTER CUSTOMER NAME
042	*
043	100 *
	REMAINDER OF THE PROGRAM GOES HERE

When this program is compiled the code from FILE.DEF CUSTOMER will be
inserted into the CUST.MNT program at line six. This allows for consistent
variable names to be used within an application (the prefix of CUST. was
used to allow differentiating between different files within the same program).

When additional information is added to the structure of the CUSTOMER file,
only one section of code will need to be altered. For example, if in the future
an email address is to be added to the structure of the CUSTOMER file. All that
will need to be done is the changing of the DIM statement in the 'included' code
and an addition of the appropriate EQUATE statement. All the programs which
reference the 'included' code will need to be recompiled.

Look for additional tips regarding concise and simple coding for maintenance programs. coming soon!

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