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SET FORMAT*
Activate a format when READ is executed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Syntax
SET FORMAT TO [<idProcedure>[.<ext>]]
Arguments
TO <idProcedure> is a format (.fmt) file, a program (.prg) file, or
a procedure.
<ext> is the extension of the format file. If not specified, the
default extension is (.fmt).
SET FORMAT TO with no argument deactivates the current format.
Description
SET FORMAT defines a procedure to execute when a READ is invoked.
Unlike the interpreted environment, formats are not opened and executed
at runtime. Instead, the CA-Clipper compiler treats SET FORMAT the same
as a DO command. The compiler first looks to see whether it has already
compiled a procedure with the same name as <idProcedure>. If it has, it
uses that procedure for the reference. If <idProcedure> is not found,
the compiler looks to disk for a file with the same name. If this file
is not found, an external reference is generated that must be resolved
at link time.
SET FORMAT is a compatibility command and not recommended.
Notes
. Active format procedures: Unlike other dialects where each
work area can have an active format, CA-Clipper supports only one
active format procedure for all work areas.
. Screen CLEARing: CA-Clipper does not clear the screen when a
format procedure is executed.
. Legal statements: Format procedures allow statements and
commands in addition to @...SAY and @...GET.
. Multiple pages: CA-Clipper does not support multiple-page
format procedures.
Examples
. This example uses a format procedure to add records to a
database file until the user presses Esc:
USE Sales NEW
SET FORMAT TO SalesScr
DO WHILE LASTKEY() != 27
APPEND BLANK
READ
ENDDO
RETURN
PROCEDURE SalesScr
@ 12, 12 SAY "Branch : " GET Branch
@ 13, 12 SAY "Salesman : " GET Salesman
RETURN
Files Library is CLIPPER.LIB.
See Also:
@...GET
@...SAY
PROCEDURE
READ
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