Generate Include Files option
Choose this option to quickly prepare an include file to store language statements. Because the ASSIGN, FORM, and DEFINE WORK-TABLE statements can be long and complicated, you might want to store them in an include file. Also, particular instances of these statements are often repeated in different procedures, and using an include file lets you easily insert them into any 4GL procedure. See the following reference entries in OpenEdge Development: Progress 4GL Reference for more information: { }Include File, ASSIGN statement, FORM statement, and DEFINE WORK-TABLE statement.
Table 11–4 describes the menu that appears when you choose this option. More detailed descriptions of the options follow the table.
ASSIGN Statement
Use this option to generate an ASSIGN statement to copy a table. The Data Dictionary alphabetically lists all the tables defined for your database. When you choose a table, the Data Dictionary prompts you for the filename of the output file. The default filename is table-name.i. The Data Dictionary creates an output file that contains an ASSIGN statement to copy each field of the table from one buffer record to another and prompts you to continue.
Figure 11–6 shows an example of the ASSIGN statement generated for the customer table in the sports database.
FORM Statement
Choose Generate Include Files
FORM Statement to generate a FORM statement for a table. The Data Dictionary alphabetically lists all the tables defined for your database. When you select a table, the Generate FORM dialog box shown in Figure 11–7 appears.
The Generate FORM dialog box contains the following fields:
- Output File
- Fully Qualify Names
- Fully Expand Arrays
- Frame Type
- Formatting
- Validation
- Labeling
- Labels
Specifies the filename of the output file. The default filename is the table name with a .f extension.
Specifies whether to qualify field names with table names (for example, table-name.field-name). The default value is No.
Specifies whether to fully expand arrays. For example, X[1] is expanded and X is not expanded. The default value is Yes.
Specifies the type of frame to use. The options are Normal, Dialog, Overlay, or Top-Only. The default value is Normal.
Specifies the formatting to use. The options are Dictionary or Explicit. Dictionary specifies to use the Data Dictionary default formats without listing them in the FORM statement. Explicit specifies to explicitly list the format definitions in the FORM statement. The default value is Explicit.
Specifies what type of validation to use. The options are Dictionary, Explicit, or None. The default value is Dictionary. Dictionary specifies to use the Data Dictionary default validation without listing them in the FORM statement. Explicit specifies to explicitly list the validation definitions in the FORM statement. None specifies that you do not want to use validation from the Dictionary nor from FORM statements.
Specifies what type of labeling to use. The options are Dictionary, Explicit, or None. The default value is Explicit. Dictionary specifies to use the Data Dictionary default labels without listing them in the FORM statement. Explicit specifies to explicitly list the label definitions in the FORM statement. None specifies that you do not want to use any labels.
Specifies the label position. The options are Side, Top, or None. The default value is Side.
Figure 11–8 shows an example of the FORM statement generated for the customer table in the SPORTS database.
DEFINE WORK-TABLE Statement
Use this option to generate a DEFINE WORK-TABLE statement for a table. The Data Dictionary alphabetically lists all the tables defined for your database. When you choose a table, the Data Dictionary prompts you for the filename of the output file. The default filename is table-name.i. The Data Dictionary displays a status message and prompts you to continue.
Figure 11–9 shows an example of the DEFINE WORK-TABLE statement generated for the customer table in the sports database.
