STRUCTURE...ENDSTRUCTURE

Syntax

Command Mandatory parameter Optional parameter Mandatory keyword Optional keyword

<Structure name> : STRUCTURE [REDEFINES <Source variable>]

    <Definitions>

END_STRUCTURE

Description

Within the (global) definition section, structures can be used to group all data items that are defined within the structure or to define the total number of elements of the arrays that are part of the structure.

Diagram

Parameters

Parameter	Description
<Structure name>	The name of the structure.
REDEFINES	Makes the space of the <Source variable> available under the target structure name. When alpha, numeric, financial, or signed is used the type and length should also be defined.
<Source variable>	The name of the variable to be called under the <Structure name>.
<Definitions>	Definitions for constants, variables and arrays that are used in the program. (1) <Item name> : <Type> <Length>[.Decimals] [<Array dimensions>] [DCT <Dictionary item>] [Value <Value>] [FORMAT '<Format description>' [LEADING-SIGN | BLANK-WHEN-ZERO]] (2) <Item name> : [DCT <Dictionary item>] [<Array dimensions>] [Value <Value>] If the type and/or length of a value and also the dictionary are specified, they must match. For a description of the syntax elements, see also BEGIN_DEFINITIONS...END_DEFINITIONS . (3) filler : <Type> <Length>[.Decimals] [Value <Value>] Fillers can be used as a kind of delimiter wit a fixed value inside a structure. Multiple fillers with different values can be defined inside a structure.

Remarks

A structure can be treated the same way as other data items. However, a field that is defined within a structure can also be called separately, the same way as is common if it was not defined within a structure.

The minus signs in negative signed values (including also financial values) in a structure are stored, in contradiction with non-structured signed variables.

Examples

Basic structure containing an array:



It is possible to create an array of structures and a structure within a structure:



For sub arrays also the element of the parent structure has to be specified



The whole group of variables can be altered at once. Instead of filling/ changing or clearing variables separately, you can assign the value for the whole group at once. E.g. all the variables that are defined within the structure 'SG-1' can be cleared at once with the following code:

For an array of structures, array notation is required.

A condition can be checked for the whole structure at once. If for instance you have the following code, that refers to the structure SG-1. Each time that the condition evaluates true when a grouped variable is checked, the code is executed. So, in this case the code is only executed when a non empty variable within the structure 'SG-1' is encountered.



Duplicate variable names are allowed if these are at least defined in different structures. When calling a variable with a duplicate name, you have to specify the structure and if necessary the substructure(s) also.