Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Progress 4GL Reference

> ## FIRST-OF function

> Returns a TRUE value if the current iteration of a DO, FOR EACH, or REPEAT . . . BREAK block is the first iteration for a new break group, and modifies all three block types.

> #### Syntax

>     FIRST-OF ( break-group )

> ``break-group``

> The name of a field or expression you name in the block header with the BREAK BY option.

> Example

> This procedure generates a report that lists all the item records grouped by catalog page. When the cat-page value changes, the procedure clears the current list of items and displays items belonging to the new catalog page. The FIRST-OF function uses the value of the cat-page field to determine when that value is different from the value during the last iteration.

> r-firstf.p
>     FOR EACH item BREAK BY Cat-Page:
>           IF FIRST-OF(Cat-Page) THEN CLEAR ALL.
>           DISPLAY Cat-Page item-num item-name.
>     END.

> #### Note

> When you calculate in a block use the BREAK option to tell Progress to calculate when the value of certain expressions changes. Progress uses default formatting to display the results of these calculations. To control the formatting, use the FIRST-OF function to determine the start of a break group and then change the formatting.

> #### See also

> DO statement, FIRST function, FOR statement, LAST function, LAST-OF function, REPEAT statement

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