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K.2 Build Generalized Database Utilities |
SheerPower gives developers full access to database table metadata. This
allows for the easy development of generalized utilities.
SheerPower ASK TABLE Statement
The ASK TABLE statement is used to query various characteristics of a table, such as field descriptions, prompts, positions, lengths, headings, print masks, screen masks, and help messages. This allows for dynamic inspection of table structures within a program.
Example
open table cl: name 'SheerPower:samples\client'
ask table cl: fields num_fields
for i = 1 to num_fields
clear
ask table cl, field #i: description b$
ask table cl, field #i: prompt a$
ask table cl, field #i: position a%
ask table cl, field #i: length b%
ask table cl, field #i: heading f$
ask table cl, field #i: printmask c$, screenmask d$, help e$
print at 5,5: ''
print 'Description : '; b$
print 'Prompt : '; a$
print 'Position : '; a%
print 'Field length :'; b%
print 'Rpt. heading : '; f$
print 'Print mask : '; c$
print 'Screen mask : '; d$
print 'Help : '; e$
delay
next i
close table cl
end
Explanation
The example opens a table named 'client' and queries various field characteristics using the ASK TABLE statement.
- open table: Opens the specified table.
- ask table cl: fields num_fields: Retrieves the number of fields in the table.
- ask table cl, field #i: Retrieves various characteristics of each field.
- description b$: Retrieves the description of the field.
- prompt a$: Retrieves the prompt associated with the field.
- position a%: Retrieves the position of the field.
- length b%: Retrieves the length of the field.
- heading f$: Retrieves the report heading of the field.
- printmask c$: Retrieves the print mask of the field.
- screenmask d$: Retrieves the screen mask of the field.
- help e$: Retrieves the help message for the field.
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