File Name as Variable

questions
1

I need to deal with a series of FILEs sequentially. To write less code and consolidate into a ROUTINE requires using a variable for the FILE names.
Is there a way to accomplish this? StringTheory has a FileNameOnly method, but OPEN(), ADD(), etc. seem to require a FILE label only.

Alternatively, I have attempted to consolidate the files into a single file and create a dimensioned GROUP - the data has the same structure in all files - but it is unclear to me how a FILE structure handles a dimensioned GROUP.

2

The StringTheory methods you referenced are used for physical files like:

SomeFile.txt

You’re talking about FILES like TPS “files.”

3

If you need to pass parameters and return values, you can use local procedures instead of routines. It’s very easy, the only extra work is to add a MAP.

Let’s say you have this:

!Data section
LOC:File &FILE
LOC:Result LONG 

!Procedure routines
CheckFile ROUTINE

  LOC:Result = 0
  OPEN(LOC:File)
  LOC:Result = ERRORCODE()
  CLOSE(LOC:File)

!Some embed
  LOC:File &= FileA
  DO CheckFile
  IF LOC:Result
    ..
  END
  LOC:File &= FileB
  DO CheckFile
  IF LOC:Result
    ..
  END

You can write it like this:

!Data section
  MAP
CheckFile PROCEDURE(FILE pFile),LONG
  END

!Local procedures (or at the end of Local routines)
CheckFile PROCEDURE(FILE pFile)!,LONG
LOC:Result LONG
  CODE
  OPEN(pFile)
  LOC:Result = ERRORCODE()
  CLOSE(pFile)
  RETURN LOC:Result

!Some embed
  IF CheckFile(FileA)
    ..
  END
  IF CheckFile(FileB)
    ..
  END

Just like routines, local procedures have access to the procedure’s local variables, window structure, etc.

2 Likes
4

Thanks, Carlos. That looks very promising, and I will give it a try.