Linear procedures
Linear procedures can contain:
- Any QMF command
- Comment lines
- Blank lines
- RUN commands that run other procedures or queries
- Substitution variables
When a variable is set using SET GLOBAL in a linear procedure,
the value is unavailable to commands in that same procedure because
all substitution variables in a linear procedure must be resolved
before the procedure is run. You are prompted for any unresolved
variables in your procedure. However, the variable is available
to any queries or procedures called by the procedure in which it
was set.
- Substitution variables
- QMF scans the entire procedure for substitution variables,
and the values are resolved before the procedure is run.
- Global variables
- Access global variable values in linear procedures by using
substitution variables.
After the global variables are set, if you need to reset them,
you must code a RESET GLOBAL statement at the end of your procedure. Otherwise, the previous
set of substitution values will continue to be used.
- Return codes and procedure termination
- Success or failure of a command is indicated by a return code.
If a command is not successful, the procedure ends and the incorrect command
is displayed at the top of the procedure area.
- Continuation lines
- Indicated by a plus sign (+) in column one of the
continued line. Command keywords, substitution variables, and comments
cannot span lines.
- Comments
- Indicated by: --comment
