SEND METHOD

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# SEND METHOD

`SEND` [`METHOD`] operand1 `TO` [`OBJECT`] operand2
| `WITH` |  |  |  | (`AD=` |  | `M` `O` `A` |  | ) |  |  |
operand3
n `X`
[`RETURN` operand4]
[`GIVING` operand5]

This document covers the following topics:

- SEND METHOD Usage

- SEND METHOD Syntax Description

- SEND METHOD Example

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

Related Statements: `CREATE OBJECT` | `DEFINE CLASS` | `INTERFACE` | `METHOD` | `PROPERTY`

Belongs to Function Group: Component Based Programming

## SEND METHOD Usage

The `SEND METHOD` statement is used to invoke a particular method of an object.

See the section NaturalX in the Programming Guide for information on component-based programming.

## SEND METHOD Syntax Description

Operand Definition Table:

Operand | Possible Structure | Possible Formats | Referencing Permitted | Dynamic Definition
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
`operand1` | C | S |  |  |  | A |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | yes | no
`operand2` |  | S |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | O | no | no
`operand3` | C | S | A | G |  | A | U | N | P | I | F | B | D | T | L | C | G | O | yes | no
`operand4` |  | S | A |  |  | A | U | N | P | I | F | B | D | T | L | C | G | O | yes | no
`operand5` |  | S |  |  | N |  |  |  |  | I |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | yes | no

The formats C and G can only be passed to methods of local classes.

Syntax Element Description:

Syntax Element | Description
--- | ---
`operand1` | Method-Name: `operand1` is the name of a method which is supported by the object specified in `operand2`. Since the method names can be identical in different interfaces of a class, the method name in `operand1` can also be qualified with the interface name to avoid ambiguity. In the following example, the object `#O3` has an interface `Iterate` with the method `Start`. The following statements apply:
    * Specifying only the method name.
    SEND 'Start' TO #O3
    * Qualifying the method name with the interface name.
    SEND 'Iterate.Start' TO #O3
If no interface name is specified, Natural searches the method name in all the interfaces of the class. If the method name is found in more than one interface, a runtime error occurs.
`operand2` | Object Handle: The handle of the object to which the method call is to be sent. `operand2` must be defined as an object handle (`HANDLE OF OBJECT`). The object must already exist. To invoke a method of the current object inside a method, use the system variable `*THIS-OBJECT`.
`operand3` | Parameter(s) Specific to the Method: As `operand3` you can specify parameters specific to the method. In the following example, the object `#O3` has the method `PositionTo` with the parameter `Pos`. The method is called in the following way:
    SEND 'PositionTo' TO #O3 WITH Pos
Methods can have optional parameters. Optional parameters need not to be specified when the method is called. To omit an optional parameter, use the placeholder 1X. To omit `n` optional parameters, use the placeholder `nX`. In the following example, the method `SetAddress` of the object `#O4` has the parameters `FirstName`, `MiddleInitial`, `LastName`, `Street` and `City`, where `MiddleInitial`, `Street` and `City` are optional. The following statements apply:
    * Specifying all parameters.
    SEND 'SetAddress' TO #O4 WITH FirstName MiddleInitial
    LastName Street City
    * Omitting one optional parameter.
    SEND 'SetAddress' TO #O4 WITH FirstName 1X LastName Street City
    * Omitting all optional parameters.
    SEND 'SetAddress' TO #O4 WITH FirstName 1X LastName 2X
Omitting a non-optional (mandatory) parameter results in a runtime error.
`AD=` |
Attribute Definition: If `operand3` is a variable, you can mark it in one of the following ways:
`AD=O` | Non-modifiable, see session parameter `AD=O`.
`AD=M` | Modifiable, see session parameter `AD=M`. This is the default setting.
`AD=A` | Input only, see session parameter `AD=A`.
If `operand3` is a constant, `AD` cannot be explicitly specified. For constants `AD=O` always applies.
`nX` | Parameter(s) to be Skipped: With the notation `nX` you can specify that the next `n` parameters are to be skipped (for example, `1X` to skip the next parameter, or `3X` to skip the next three parameters). This means that for the next n parameters no values are passed to the method. For a method implemented in Natural, a parameter that is to be skipped must be defined with the keyword `OPTIONAL` in the dialog's `DEFINE DATA PARAMETER` statement. `OPTIONAL` means that a value can - but need not - be passed from the invoking object to such a parameter.
`RETURN operand4` | RETURN Clause: If the `RETURN` clause is omitted and the method has a return value, the return value is discarded. If the `RETURN` clause is specified, `operand4` contains the return value of the method. If the method execution fails, `operand4` is reset to its initial value. Note For classes written in Natural, the return value of a method is defined by entering one additional parameter in the parameter data area of the method and by marking it with `BY VALUE RESULT`. For more information, see the `PARAMETER` clause in the `INTERFACE` statement description. Therefore the parameter data area of a method that is written in Natural and that has a return value always contains one additional field next to the method parameters. This is to be considered when you call a method of a Natural written class and want to use the parameter data area of the method in the `SEND` statement.
`GIVING operand5` | GIVING Clause: If the `GIVING` clause is not specified, the Natural run time error processing is triggered if an error occurs. If the `GIVING` clause is specified, `operand5` contains the Natural message number if an error occurred, or zero on success.

## SEND METHOD Example

The following diagram gives an overview of the Natural objects that are used in this example. The corresponding source code and the program output are shown below. Links to the source code of an object are provided in the diagram.

#### Program METH01 - CREATE OBJECT and SEND METHOD Using a Class and Several Methods:

    ** Example 'METH01':  CREATE OBJECT and SEND METHOD
    **                    using a class and several methods (see METH*)
    ************************************************************************
    DEFINE DATA
    LOCAL
      USING METHA
    LOCAL
    1 L-STUDENT HANDLE OF OBJECT
    1 #NAME     (A20)
    1 #STREET   (A20)
    1 #CITY     (A20)
    1 #SUM      (I4)
    1 #MULTI    (I4)
    END-DEFINE
    *
    * see class STUDENTS in METHCL
    CREATE OBJECT L-STUDENT OF CLASS 'STUDENTS'
    *
    * see property in interface STUDENT-ARITHMETICS
    * If the property name does not conform to Natural identifier syntax,
    * it must be enclosed in angle brackets.
    L-STUDENT.<<FULL-NAME>> := 'John Smith'
    *
    * see methods in interface STUDENT-ARITHMETICS
    SEND METHOD 'INIT' TO L-STUDENT
         WITH #VAR1 #VAR2 #VAR3 #VAR4
    *
    SEND METHOD 'SUMMATION' TO L-STUDENT
         WITH #VAR1 #VAR2 #VAR3 #VAR4
    *
    SEND METHOD 'MULTIPLICATION' TO L-STUDENT
         WITH #VAR1 #VAR2 #VAR3 #VAR4
    *
    * see property in interface STUDENT-ADDRESS with
    * same object data variable in interface STUDENT-ARITHMETICS
    #NAME  := L-STUDENT.<<STUDENT-NAME>>
    *
    * see properties in interface STUDENT-ARITHMETICS
    #SUM   := L-STUDENT.<<SUM>>
    #MULTI := L-STUDENT.<<MULTI>>
    *
    * see method in interface STUDENT-ADDRESS
    SEND METHOD 'ADDRESS' TO L-STUDENT
    *
    * see properties in interface STUDENT-ADDRESS
    * use <<interface.property>> to define interface name as identifier
    #STREET := L-STUDENT. <<STUDENT-ADDRESS.STREET>>
    #CITY   := L-STUDENT. <<STUDENT-ADDRESS.CITY>>
    *
    *
    WRITE 'Name  :' #NAME
    WRITE 'Street:' #STREET
    WRITE 'City  :' #CITY
    WRITE ' '
    WRITE 'The summation of     ' #VAR1 #VAR2 #VAR3 #VAR4
    WRITE 'is' #SUM
    WRITE 'The multiplication of' #VAR1 #VAR2 #VAR3 #VAR4
    WRITE 'is' #MULTI
    *
    END

#### Class Definition METHCL Used by METH01:

    ** Example 'METHCL': DEFINE CLASS (used by METH01)
    ************************************************************************
    * Defining class STUDENTS for METH01
    *
    DEFINE CLASS STUDENTS
      OBJECT
        USING METHO                  /* Object data for class STUDENTS
      /*
      INTERFACE STUDENT-ARITHMETICS
        PROPERTY FULL-NAME
          IS STUDENT-NAME
        END-PROPERTY
        PROPERTY SUM
          IS METHOD-SUM
        END-PROPERTY
        PROPERTY MULTI
          IS METHOD-MULTI
        END-PROPERTY
    *
        METHOD INIT
          IS METH02
          PARAMETER USING METHA
        END-METHOD
        METHOD SUMMATION
          IS METH03
          PARAMETER USING METHA
        END-METHOD
        METHOD MULTIPLICATION
          IS METH04
          PARAMETER USING METHA
        END-METHOD
      END-INTERFACE
    *
      INTERFACE STUDENT-ADDRESS
        PROPERTY STUDENT-NAME
        END-PROPERTY
        PROPERTY STREET
        END-PROPERTY
        PROPERTY CITY
        END-PROPERTY
    *
        METHOD ADDRESS
          IS METH05
        END-METHOD
      END-INTERFACE
    END-CLASS
    END

#### Local Data Area METHO (object data) Used by Class METHCL and Subprograms METH02, METH03, METH04 and METH05:

    Local     METHO     Library SYSEXSYN                       DBID    10 FNR    32
    Command                                                                     > +
    I T L  Name                             F Length     Miscellaneous
    All -- -------------------------------- - ---------- ------------------------->
         1 ADDRESS-NAME                     A         20
         1 STREET                           A         30
         1 CITY                             A         20
         1 METHOD-SUM                       I          4
         1 METHOD-MULTI                     I          4

#### Parameter Data Area METHA Used by Program METH01, Class METHCL and Subprograms METH02, METH03 and METH04:

    Parameter METHA     Library SYSEXSYN                       DBID    10 FNR    32
    Command                                                                     > +
    I T L  Name                             F Length     Miscellaneous
    All -- -------------------------------- - ---------- ------------------------->
         1 #VAR1                            I          4
         1 #VAR2                            I          4
         1 #VAR3                            I          4
         1 #VAR4                            I          4

#### Subprogram METH02 - Method INIT Used by Program METH01:

    ** Example 'METH02': Method INIT (used by METH01)
    ************************************************************************
    DEFINE DATA
    PARAMETER
      USING METHA
    OBJECT
      USING METHO
    END-DEFINE
    *
    * Method INIT of class STUDENTS
    *
    #VAR1 := 1
    #VAR2 := 2
    #VAR3 := 3
    #VAR4 := 4
    *
    END

#### Subprogram METH03 - Method SUMMATION Used by Program METH01:

    ** Example 'METH03': Method SUMMATION (used by METH01)
    ************************************************************************
    DEFINE DATA
    PARAMETER
      USING METHA
    OBJECT
      USING METHO
    END-DEFINE
    *
    * Method SUMMATION of class STUDENTS
    *
    COMPUTE METHOD-SUM = #VAR1 + #VAR2 + #VAR3 + #VAR4
    END

#### Subprogram METH04 - Method MULTIPLICATION Used by Program METH01:

    ** Example 'METH04': Method MULTIPLICATION (used by METH01)
    ************************************************************************
    DEFINE DATA
    PARAMETER
      USING METHA
    OBJECT
      USING METHO
    END-DEFINE
    *
    * Method MULTIPLICATION of class STUDENTS
    *
    COMPUTE METHOD-MULTI = #VAR1 * #VAR2 * #VAR3 * #VAR4
    END

#### Subprogram METH05 - Method ADDRESS Used by Program METH01:

    ** Example 'METH05': Method ADDRESS (used by METH01)
    ************************************************************************
    DEFINE DATA
    OBJECT
      USING METHO
    END-DEFINE
    *
    * Method ADDRESS of class STUDENTS
    *
    IF STUDENT-NAME = 'John Smith'
      STREET := 'Oxford street'
      CITY   := 'London'
    END-IF
    END

#### Output of Program METH01:

    Page      1                                                  2024-07-26 10:30:28

    Name  : John Smith
    Street: Oxford street
    City  : London

    The summation of                1           2           3           4
    is          10
    The multiplication of           1           2           3           4
    is          24

### On this page

- SEND METHOD Usage
- SEND METHOD Syntax Description
- SEND METHOD Example