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Basic Script Structure

     

The Basic Script Structure is broken down into 4 main sections. 

The Variables Section

 

A variable is a user-defined attribute against which you can evaluate and store an evaluated result for output or further action.  Multiple variables can be declared under a heading var.   For Example:

 

Var

  TheCustomerName: String;

  TheInvoiceCount: integer;

  ErrorFound : Boolean;

 

Each variable is declared using the same standard format;

 

  VariableName        your defined name – No Spaces

   :                        Colon to denote the end of the VariableName

  Format                The Format of the data

  ;                        Semi-colon to denote end of variable

 

The more common Formats are:

String – AlphaNumeric characters

Double – Number with decimals

Integer – Number with no decimals

Boolean – True or False

 

However you can also use the following:

 

Byte: Same as Integer

Word: Same as Integer

Integer: Basic Integer (Whole numbers only)

Longint: Same as Integer

Cardinal: Same as Integer

Tcolor: Same as Integer

Boolean: Returns True or False

Real: Same as Extended

Single: Same as Extended

Double: Same as Extended

Extended: A floating point type with the highest capacity and precision

TDate: Data type holding a date value (Same as Extended type)

TTime: Data type holding a time value (Same as Extended type)

TDateTime: Data type holding a date and time value (Same as Extended type)

Char: Variable type holding a single character

String: A data type that holds a string of characters

Variant: A variable type that can hold changing data types

Array: An Array type

 

The Constants Section

A Constant is a user-defined value that can be referenced at any time within the script

Multiple Constants can be declared under a heading const.   For Example:

 

Const

pi = 3.14159;

  e = 2.71828496

 

Each constant is declared using the same standard format;

 

  ConstantName        your defined name – No Spaces

   =                        Equals sign

  Value                        The defined value of the constant

  ;                        Semi-colon to denote end of declared constant

The Main Process

The Main Process is a user-defined routine than performs a required activity.  A simple example of a Main Process is:

 

var

MyValue: Integer;

begin

MyValue := 1;

Showmessage(Myvalue + Myvalue);

End.

 

You should note the following

 

A Var is only required if you are storing a result as opposed to the script (say) updating a record.

The process itself has a Begin and End Statement

Each instruction within the process ends with a semi-colon

The final End statement ends in a full-stop

 

The Procedure Section

If a process is used more than once within the script you can avoid retyping the process by declaring a Procedure.   A Procedure is a user-defined routine than performs a required activity.  This allows you to simply call the Procedure Name whenever you require this process to be carried out.

 

A procedure can comprise of its own declared Variables as well as the process itself,  For example

 

procedure FirstProcedure;

var

MyValue: Integer;

begin

MyValue := 1;

Showmessage(Myvalue + Myvalue);

End;

 

Begin

FirstProcedure;

End.

 

Comments

A couple of notes to complete this introduction:

 

1.  You can place comments in the script in one of two ways

 

//   Anything on this line after the ‘double slash’ is ignored

 

{ Anything that is contained within ‘squiggly Brackets’ is ignored.  This can go over many lines}

 

2.  Pre-defined functions are ‘Procedures’ designed by Development-X that allow you enter simple information to perform a complex activity.  These are shown in the next section