Method Reference

Built-in methods can be called in method logic anywhere within their scope.

Add

Adds an item to a list attribute.

<<listObject>>::Add(T value) : void

Advance

Advances the outputstream the requested number of lines.

<<outputstream>>::Advance(Lines : numericExpression) : void

AdvanceChannel

Advances the outputstream to the specified printer channel number.

<<outputstream>>::AdvanceChannel(Channel : numericExpression) : void

AdvanceNewPage

Advances the outputstream to the top of the next page.

<<outputstream>>::AdvanceNewPage(void) : void

AnnualRateOfFlow

Calculates the annual rate of flow required to reduce the present value to zero in the specified number of time periods.

Glb.Financial::AnnualRateOfFlow(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

AnnuityFutureValue

Calculates the annuity (regular savings) required to accumulate the nominated future value.

Glb.Financial::AnnuityFutureValue(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

AtEnd

Returns whether the last member of the set has been accessed in the current iteration.

<<datasetInstance>>::AtEnd(void) : Boolean

BeginPage

Specify that the named frame is printed at the head of each new page. Multiple BeginPage methods might be called. The Frames is printed in the order specified by their Sequence property.

<<outputstream>>::BeginPage(Frame : stringExpression) : void

BeginPageClear

Clears any Begin Page settings for the outputstream.

<<outputstream>>::BeginPageClear(void) : void

Clear

Clears the entire contents of a scalar or array variable in a single operation.

<<variable>>::Clear(void) : void

Close

Closes the external file attached to the open extract file.

<<extract file>>::Close(
   retain : boolean = false,
   purge : boolean = false) : void

Close – Persistent Class

Resets a specific iterator to its constructed state. The iterator has no position until a First(), Last(), Next(), or Prior() is invoked. For a non-keyed table, following the Close() method with First(), Last(), Next(), or Prior() method reads a ‘start point’ record. 

For a keyed table, following the Close() method with:

Close – Profile

The Close built-in profile method resets a specific iterator to its constructed state. The iterator has no position until a First(), Last(), Next() or Prior() is invoked. For a keyed table, following the Close() method with:

CloseDown

Called on application shut down.

<<segment>>::CloseDown(void) : void

CloseUpdate

Called on application shut down.

<<segment>>::CloseUpdate(void) : void

Compound

Calculates the future value accumulated in the specified number of time periods from the present value.

Glb.Financial::Compound(
   initialValue : numericExpression,
   interestRate : numericExpression,
   timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

Construct - Ispec and Event

Sets up the ispec or event before it is ready to accept input (for ispecs with a user interface, this corresponds with its display to the application client).

<<ispec || event>>::Construct(void) : void

Construct - SQL Script

Opens the database cursor in preparation for iterating through the results of a Determine Actual logic statement.

<SQL script>>::Construct(void) : void

Contra

Inverts the sign of the signed number-primitive variable.

<<variable>>::Contra(void) : void

Count

Returns the number of members of the set.

<<datasetInstance>>::Count(void) : numericLiteral

Create

The Create built-in extract file method creates the external file attached to the extract file.

<<extract file>>::Create([Filename : stringExpression]) : void

Delete

Deletes the external file attached to the extract file.

<<extract file>>::Delete(void) : void

Destruct

Releases any resources used by the SQL script.

<<SQL script>>::Destruct(void) : void

Discount

Calculates the present value required to accumulate the nominated future value.

Glb.Financial::Discount(    
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

Edit

Called during the validation phase of the copy cycle.

<<copy ispec || copy event>>::Edit(void) : void

Evaluate

Calls other Glb.Financial member methods dynamically at runtime.

Glb.Financial::Evaluate(
action : qualifier,
futureValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

External

Specifies that the ispec is intended for use in an external automatic entry.

<<ispec || event>>::External(isExternal : boolean ) : void

First - DataSet

Returns the first member of the set.

<<datasetInstance>>::First(void) : datasetInstance

First – Persistent Class

Returns the first record in the table, if it is a non-keyed table. If it is a keyed table and the key value(s) have been initialized, returns the record with the specified key value(s) or the next record after the key values if there is no direct key-value match available.

<<persistent class>>::First(void) : Boolean

First – Profile

If the Profile has not been initialized (that is, the key values have not been established in the appropriate <table>.<attribute> fields), returns the first record in the table according to the order of the profile’s defined keys and filter conditions (if any). If the Profile has been initialized, then returns the first record matching the specified profile key values or the next record after the key values if there is no direct key-value match available.

<<persistent class>>::First(<profile>) : boolean

First - Variable

Returns the first character of the string variable.

<<string variable>>::First(void) : stringExpression

FlowForFutureValue

Calculates the annual rate of flow required to accumulate the nominated future value.

Glb.Financial::FlowForFutureValue(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

FutureValueFlow

Calculates the future value accumulated in the specified number of time periods from the annual rate of flow.

Glb.Financial::FutureValueFlow(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

FutureValueFromAnnuity

Calculates the future value accumulated in the specified number of time periods from the annuity (regular savings).

Glb.Financial::FutureValueFromAnnuity(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

GetLength

Determines the length of a variable. This length includes leading and embedded spaces, but not trailing spaces.

<<string variable>>::GetLength(void) : numericLiteral

GetPath

Returns the path assigned to the binary instance. If no path is assigned, then an empty string is returned.

<<binaryLargeObject>>::GetPath(void) : string

Initialize

Clears the database buffer of the ispec. It is generally for use prior to automatic entry processing.

<<ispec || event>>::Initialize(void) : void

IsEmpty

<<datasetInstance>>::IsEmpty(void) : boolean

Key

Specifies the sort order for the Sort built-in extract file method.

Static

<<extract file sort order>>::Key(
key : qualifier,
order : stringExpression) : boolean

Non-static

<<extract file sort order>>::Key(
key : qualifier,
order : stringExpression) : Boolean

Last

Returns the last member of the set.

<<datasetInstance>>::Last(void) : datasetInstance

LeftAlign

Removes leading zeros from the numeric expression and moves the result, left-aligned, and without separators, to the calling variable. Trailing decimal zeros are not removed.

<<string variable>>::LeftAlign(
alignThis : numericExpression,
setZero : boolean = false,
decimalChar : string = void ) : void

Load

Retrieves the class's persistent attributes from the database.

<<persistent class>>::Load(void) : void

Main - Frame

Executes the logic of the frame, but does not output the frame for printing.

<<frame>>::Main(void) : void

Main - Ispec and Event

Called by the segment cycle after automatic validation following the invocation of the ispec or event's Prepare method, but prior to automatic update.

<<ispec || event>>::Main(void) : void

Main - SQL Script

Called on each iteration of a Determine Actual logic statement. It retrieves the next database record from the results of the Determine Actual logic statement.

<<SQL script>>::Main(void) : void

Mortgage

Calculates the annuity (regular payments) required to amortize the present value in the specified number of time periods.

Glb.Financial::Mortgage(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

Open

Opens the external file attached to the extract file.

<<extract file>>::Open(
fileName : string,
mode : string) : void

Position

The Position built-in extract file method positions the offset of the external file attached to the extract file.

<<extract file>>::Position(RecordNumber : numericExpression) : void

Prepare

Called by the segment cycle before invocation of the ispec or event's Main method.

<<ispec || event>>::Prepare(void) : void

PresentValueFlow

Calculates the present value required to produce the annual rate of flow for the specified number of time periods, leaving a future value of zero.

Glb.Financial::PresentValueFlow(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

PresentValueToAnnuity

Calculates the present value required to produce the annuity for the specified number of time periods, leaving a future value of zero.

Glb.Financial::PresentValueToAnnuity(
initialValue : numericExpression,
interestRate : numericExpression,
timeUnits : numericExpression) : numericLiteral

Print

Executes the logic of the frame (including any nested Print method invocations), and outputs the frame for printing.

<<frame>>::Print(
streamName : qualifier = void,
start : numericExpression = void) : void

Purge - Extract File

Remove all data from the file.

<<extract file>>::Purge(void) : void

Purge - Persistent Class

Physically deletes the most recently accessed persistent class record from the database.

<<persistent class>>::Purge(void) : void

Read

Reads a record from an extract file into Object.

<<extract file>>::Read(object : anObject : void

Release

Release the current print output.

<<outputstream>>::BeginPageClear(void) : void

Restart

Restarts the offset (positions the offset at the beginning) of the external file attached to the extract file.

<<extract file>>::Restart(void) : void

SendPrint

Send the current print to the named Device at Destination on host.

<<outputstream>>::SendPrint(
Device : stringExpression [
Destination : stringExpression [
HostName : stringExpression ] ] )  : void

SEND

Sends the presentation of the current object to a remote destination specified using GLB.DESTINATION, GLB.DESTHOST etc.

<<persistent class>>::Send(void) : void

SetMaint

Sets the Maint attribute of a keyed ispec to a specified value so that it can be translated to internal form for storage in the database record.

<<ispec>>::SetMaint(maint : stringExpression) : void

SetPath

Establishes the path to the file containing the binary data.

<<binaryLargeObject>>::SetPath(string) : void

SetToClearWhen

This method sets the attribute it is invoked on to the ClearWhen character defined for that attribute or to the default ClearWhen character if no ClearWhen character has been specifically defined for the attribute.

<<persistent attribute || persistent attribute group>>::SetToClearWhen(void) : void

Sort

Orders records in the extract file. The sort order applied is specified by the Key built-in method.

<<extractFile>>::Sort(sortOn : sortOrder) : void

StartUp

Called on application start up.

<<segment>>::StartUp(void) : void

Store

Updates the class's persistent attributes in the database.

<<persistent class>>::Store(void) : void

ToLower

Converts the value of the string variable to lowercase. The characters 'A' through 'Z' are converted to 'a' through 'z' respectively. Embedded digits or non-alphabetical characters are unchanged.

<<string variable>>::ToLower(void) : void

Total

Returns the sum of all values of the specified attribute of the members of the set.

<<datasetInstance>>::Total(AttributeName : stringExpression) : numericLiteral

ToUpper

Converts the value of the string variable to uppercase. The characters 'a' through 'z' are converted to 'A' through 'Z' respectively. Embedded digits or non-alphabetical characters are unchanged.

<<string variable>>::ToUpper(void) : void

Update

Updates the current record (last read into the instance).

<<persistent class>>::Update(void) : void

Notes:

  • To use the <class>.UPDATE() method for MCP-based systems, at least one of the following conditions must be true:

  • The record is accessed through DT/LU by using the SECURE option within the current processing cycle.

  • The record is persisted by <class>.STORE() or <class>.CLEARPERSISTENT() prior to the <class>.UPDATE() and within the current processing cycle.

Write

Writes the string representation of Object to the extract file.

<<extract file>>::Write(object : anObject) : void