METHOD

METHOD

Class

Applications

Purpose

External method definition for a class

Syntax

METHOD <class-name> :: <method-name>

See Also

CLASS, PARAMETERS, RETURN

Description

An object encapsulates methods that perform operations on the object. Encapsulation hides methods within an object, and makes the object into a fully self-contained operational unit. The METHOD command allows you to define an external method outside the CLASS...ENDCLASS construct. This allows for a procedural library of methods, or for each method to be stored in a separate physical file. An external method can have a parameter list defined with the PARAMETER command. The RETURN command should be used to define the end of the external method.

Keyword	Description
<class-name>	The <class-name> to which the method belongs.
::	The :: operator is used as a separator between the class name and method name.
<method-name>	A unique <method-name> of up to 32 characters must be specified. This will be the name used in the METHOD clause in the CLASS...ENDCLASS construct.

Example

class myclass
    // Define properties
    property color as character
    property size as numeric
 
    // Define external methods
    method display external
 
    // Define internal methods
    method update
        ....
    return
endclass
 
// External method for 'myclass' class
method myclass::display
    parameters whatever
    ...
return

Products

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