Access
To display, create or modify the general characteristics of a macro-instruction of the current application area, select either:
the corresponding context-sensitive menu option (or the equivalent button) in the Macro-instructions tab of the Object manager.
the General characteristics option from the Macro-instruction menu of the 4GL Editor (in modification mode only).
the corresponding option in the context-sensitive menu of the Repository - Macro-instructions dialog box of the 4GL Editor.
Data entry
Name
Name of the macro-instruction.
This name must be unique among the names of macro-instructions in the environment.
Length: 30 characters maximum. Lowercase letters are forbidden.
Mandatory entry.
Description (macro-instruction)
Description clearly identifying the macro-instruction.
Length: 250 characters maximum.
Mandatory entry.
Subject
Length: 15 characters maximum.
Optional entry.
Type
Length: 15 characters maximum.
Optional entry.
Description (parameter)
Description clearly identifying the parameter.
Length: 30 characters maximum.
Mandatory entry.
Length
The length of the parameter is not mandatory for a parameter whose control is not "Type" nor "Type and length".
Numeric parameters: 30 positions maximum.
Dec. (number of decimal positions)
The number of decimal positions of the parameter is not mandatory for a parameter whose control is not "Type" nor "Type and length".
Alphanumeric parameters: leave this field blank.
Numeric parameters: this number must range between 0 and 9.
Mandatory entry.
N°. (sequence number)
Sequence number of the parameter in the list and in the call sequence.
This number must range between 0 and 99.
This field is not mandatory. If it is left blank, the parameter is added at the end of the list.
If the number entered is already assigned, the parameter is inserted with the number entered, and any equal or greater numbers are incremented so that there are not two parameters with the same number.
Radio buttons
Visibility
The visibility of a macro-instruction is either public or private. Only the owner of the macro-instruction, or a software engineer with modification authorities, can change the visibility.
A public macro-instruction cannot be changed into a private macro-instruction if it is attached to more than one application area.
In creation mode, the visibility is by default set to public.
Lists
Parameters
List of replacing parameters of the macro-instruction.
Single-selection list.
Control
Choose the required control type in the list box.
Optional entry.
Buttons
Information
This button opens a dialog box displaying information on the current macro-instruction, such as the name of the software engineer-owner, the dates and times of creation and modification.
Comments
This button opens a dialog box for entering a comment text which will be associated with the current macro-instruction.
Add
This button adds to the list the parameter entered in the input fields.
It is not active when the mandatory input fields are empty.
Modify
This button updates the list by saving the modifications made in the input fields on the selected parameter.
It is not active when no parameter is selected in the list.
Delete
This button deletes the selected parameter from the list.
It is not active when no parameter is selected in the list.
Enter/Create/Modify (validation)
The Enter button (in display mode) closes the dialog box.
The Create button (in creation mode) or Modify button (in modification mode) validates the dialog box.
The various fields of the dialog box are verified. If all are valid, the macro-instruction definition is updated in the database before the box is closed; otherwise, an error message is displayed.
Cancel
This button closes the dialog box without validating the choices made.
Keyboard shortcut: Esc.