General syntax of DEFINE DATA LOCAL:
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LOCAL |
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USING |
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local-data-area |
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| parameter-data-area | |||||||||
data-definition
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This document covers the following topics:
For an explanation of the symbols used in the syntax diagram, see Syntax Symbols.
The DEFINE DATA LOCAL statement is used to define the data
elements that are to be used exclusively by a single Natural module in an
application. These elements or fields can be defined within the statement
itself (see data-definition);
or they can be defined outside the program in a separate local data area (LDA)
or a parameter data area (PDA), with the statement referencing that data
area.
The LDA and the objects which reference it must be contained in the same library (or in a steplib).
| local-data-area | A
local data
area contains predefined data elements which can be included in the
DEFINE DATA LOCAL statement. You may reference more than one data
area; in that case you have to repeat the reserved words LOCAL and
USING, for example:
DEFINE DATA LOCAL LOCAL USING DATX_L LOCAL USING DATX_P ... END-DEFINE ;For further information, see also Defining Fields in a Separate Data Area and Local Data Area, Example 2 in the Programming Guide. |
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| parameter-data-area | A data area referenced with
DEFINE DATA LOCAL may also be a parameter data area (PDA). By
using a PDA as an LDA you can avoid the extra effort of creating an LDA that
has the same structure as the PDA.
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| direct-data-definition | See Direct Data Definition below. |
| END-DEFINE | The Natural reserved word
END-DEFINE must be used to end the DEFINE DATA
statement.
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Local data can be defined directly within a program or routine. For direct data definition, the following syntax applies:
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level |
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group-name [(array-definition)] |
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| variable-definition | |||||
| view-definition | |||||
| redefinition | |||||
| handle-definition |
For further information, see
Example 1 - DEFINE DATA LOCAL (Direct Data Definition)
Defining Fields within a DEFINE DATA Statement in the Programming Guide
Local Data Area, Example 1 in the Programming Guide
Syntax Element Description for Direct Data Definition:
| level |
Level number is a 1- or 2-digit number in the range from 01 to 99 (the leading zero is optional) used in conjunction with field grouping. Fields assigned a level number of 02 or greater are considered to be a part of the immediately preceding group which has been assigned a lower level number. The definition of a group enables reference to a series of fields
(may also be only 1 field) by using the group name. With certain statements
( A group may consist of other groups. When assigning the level numbers for a group, no level numbers may be skipped. A view-definition must always be defined at Level 1. |
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| group-name |
The name of a group. The name must adhere to the rules for defining a Natural variable name. See also the following sections:
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| array-definition | With an array-definition, you define the lower and upper bounds of dimensions in an array-definition. See Array Dimension Definition. |
| variable-definition | A variable-definition is used to define a single field/variable that may be single-valued (scalar) or multi-valued (array). See Variable Definition. |
| view-definition | A view-definition is used to define a view as derived from a data definition module (DDM). See View Definition. |
| redefinition | A redefinition may be used to redefine a group, a view, a DDM field or a single field/variable (that is a scalar or an array). See Redefinition. |
| handle-definition | A handle identifies a dialog element in code and is stored in handle variables. See Handle Definition. |
