
Natural for Mainframes	Version 8.2.6 for Mainframes	SEARCH CONTENTS \| PDF BOOKS \| HOME UP PREV NEXT

— Statements —

DEFINE CLASS

`DEFINE CLASS` `class-name`
	`OBJECT`	`USING`	`local-data-area`
			`parameter-data-area`
		`local-data-definition`
	`LOCAL`	`USING`	`local-data-area`
			`parameter-data-area`
		`local-data-definition`
	`INTERFACE USING` `copycode`
	`interface-statement`
[`property-statement`]
[`method-statement`]
`END-CLASS`

This document covers the following topics:

Function
Syntax Description

For an explanation of the symbols used in the syntax diagram, see Syntax Symbols.

Related Statements: CREATE OBJECT | INTERFACE | METHOD | PROPERTY | SEND METHOD

Belongs to Function Group: Component Based Programming

Function

The DEFINE CLASS statement is used to specify a class from within a Natural class module. A Natural class module consists of one DEFINE CLASS statement followed by an END statement.

Syntax Description

Syntax Element	Description
`class-name`	Class Name: This is the name that is used by clients to create objects of this class. The name can be up to a maximum of 32 characters long. The name may contain periods: this can be used to construct class names such as `company-name.application-name.class-name` Each part between the periods (...) must conform to the Naming Conventions for User-Defined Variables. If the class is planned to be used by clients written in different programming languages, the class name should be chosen in a way that it does not conflict with the naming conventions that apply in these languages.
`OBJECT`	OBJECT Clause: This clause is used to define the object data. The syntax of the `OBJECT` clause is the same as for the `LOCAL` clause of the `DEFINE DATA` statement. For further information, see the description of the `LOCAL` clause of the `DEFINE DATA` statement.
`LOCAL`	LOCAL Clause: This clause is only used to include globally unique IDs (GUIDs) in the class definition. GUIDs need only be defined if a class is to be registered with DCOM. GUIDs are mostly defined in a local data area. The syntax of the `LOCAL` clause is the same as for the `LOCAL` clause of the `DEFINE DATA` statement. For further information, see the description of the `LOCAL` clause of the `DEFINE DATA` statement.
`INTERFACE USING`	INTERFACE USING Clause: This clause is used to include copycode that contains `INTERFACE` statements.
`copycode`	Copycode: The copycode used by the `INTERFACE USING` clause may contain one or more `INTERFACE` statements.
`interface-statement`	INTERFACE Statement: The `INTERFACE` statement is used to define methods and properties for a class.
`property-statement`	PROPERTY Statement: The `PROPERTY` statement is used to assign an object data variable operand as the implementation to a property, outside an interface definition.
`method-statement`	METHOD Statement: The `METHOD` statement is used to assign a subprogram as the implementation to a method, outside an interface definition.
`END-CLASS`	End of DEFINE CLASS Statement: The Natural reserved word `END-CLASS` must be used to end the `DEFINE CLASS` statement.

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