Easytrieve Macros

Macros can be used for any or all parts of an EASYTRIEVE PLUS program. You can use macros to provide shortcuts for your end users in many ways. You can also use macros to simplify some of your programming routines.

Macro Applications

The following list is provided to give you ideas on how to use macros:

• Data Dictionary – You can store file and field definitions for frequently requested files in a macro. This eliminates the need to code field definitions every time a file is used in an EASYTRIEVE PLUS program.
• Commonly Used Routines - If you find that you have certain routines that are used regularly, they can be made into a macro and recoding of these routines can be avoided.
• Report Templating – Regularly generated reports can be stored as a macro and recalled as needed.
• Simulate Query – In this application an entire EASYTRIEVE PLUS program would be stored in a macro and the end user would code only a single line to produce a report.
• Logic Templating – Frequently occurring logic patterns may be stored as macros for use in a variety of programs.
• Simple Presentation of Data – Data description and record presentation from any file structure can be controlled. When this information is placed in a macro the complexity of data structures is hidden from the user.
• Control Access to Data – You can limit the fields available for user processing by coding only the fields you want them to have accessible in the macros in the data dictionary.

Created with Artisteer