Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Getting Started:
Object-oriented Programming

Defining the constructor

A class can define a special method called its constructor, which allows you to execute behavior during the instantiation of a class. Progress allows you to define a constructor as a named block that always begins with the CONSTRUCTOR statement and always ends with the END CONSTRUCTOR statement. A constructor must have the same name as the name of the class in which it is defined. The constructor only executes when the class is instantiated. If the constructor is PUBLIC, its class can be instantiated directly. If it is PROTECTED, only a subclass of the class in which the constructor is defined can be instantiated directly. A constructor can also have parameters, but no defined return type. For more information on defining constructors, see the "Defining the class constructor" section.

Comparison with procedure-based programming

For persistent procedures, the equivalent behavior executes directly in the main block.