Compiler Directives
There are a number of commands which deal with input such
as putting comments in the input text, including text from another file,
creating synonyms for any text string and controlling the way the output from
the compiler is listed. The compiler directive commands can be used at any
point in the input file.
Comments
Comments are indicated by an asterisk (*) as the first non-blank character on a
line. For example:
* This is a Comment Line
INCLUDE
INCLUDE 'file_name'
Includes a file of commands at that point in a Form Definition. The Included
file can contain any valid set of commands. INCLUDE is useful
when developing screens separately or when a set of commands is common to
several Form Definition Files.
- For example, to include a set of standard synonyms:
INCLUDE 'SYNONYM.cmp'
SYNONYM
SYNONYM name text
Defines a name that is replaced during compilation with the text. The
SYNONYM command creates a short mnemonic name for a long,
complex expression. The synonym definition must occur before it is referenced
in another command. Once a synonym has been defined, it can be used anywhere in
the form definition.
For example: suppose the CALL for a number of screens is to
have the following clauses:
CALL screen AUTO CALL RETURN WRITE NOPROMPT NODATA
A synonym called AUTOSCREEN could be created and used as
follows:
SYNONYM AUTOSCREEN -
AUTO CALL RETURN WRITE NOPROMPT NODATA
...
CALL screen AUTOSCREEN
Listing Commands
These commands control the titles and paging of a listing of the compilation.
In order to get a listing of the compilation, use the LISTING =
filename parameter on the execution statement. These commands
do not affect anything other than the listing.
When compiling large forms, you are advised to send the output to a listing
file, and review this for syntax or compilation errors.
EJECT
Causes a page eject to occur at this point.
FOOTING
FOOTING 'footing_string'
Causes a text string to be printed at the bottom of every output listing page.
FOOTING can be respecified as many times as necessary.
MAINTITLE
MAINTITLE 'main_title_string'
Causes a text string to be printed as the first line of each output page.
SPACE
SPACE [n][,m]
Prints n blank lines. If fewer than n lines remain on the page, a page eject is
performed. If m is specified, and at least n+m lines remain on the page, n lines
are skipped and printing continues. A page eject is performed if fewer than n+m
lines remain. This allows a group of commands to be printed together.
- Example: To print a blank line before printing the next 10
lines making sure all 10 lines fit on a page:
SPACE 1,10
SUBTITLE
SUBTITLE 'subtitle_string'
Causes a string of text to be printed as the second line of each output page.
The SUBTITLE command can appear as many times as necessary.
Forms 
