Tag Archives: Destination

Expression Terms

Posted on by vivaclipper

Assignment :

The act of copying a new value into a variable. In Clipper language this is done with the simple assignment operators (=) and (:=), or the compound operators (+=, -=, *=, **=).

Binary Operator :

An operator that operates on two operands. For example, the addition operator.

See Also: Operator

Character Functions :

Those functions that act upon individual characters or strings of ASCII characters in the performance of their tasks.

See Also: ASCII, Function, String

Concatenate :

To combine two groups of character data together by placing them in a sequence to form a new string of characters.

See Also: Data Type

Condition :

A logical expression that determines whether an operation will take place. With database commands, a logical expression that determines what records are included in an operation. Conditions are specified as arguments of the FOR or WHILE clause.

Conversion Functions :

Generally referring to a category of functions whose purpose is to change one data type to another (e.g., to change a number or a date to a character string).

Date Functions :

Functions that operate on date values (as opposed to character, numeric or other values).

See Also: Function

Decrement :

To decrease a value by a fixed amount, usually one. In Clipper, the decrement operator (–) can be used to decrement a numeric value in a variable.

See Also: Assignment Increment

Destination :

The variable or array element to receive data in an assignment.

See Also: Assignment

Evaluate :

To execute part of a program in order to produce a value. For an expression, to execute the program code associated with the expression and return the resulting value. For the macro operator, to compile the macro string, execute the resulting program code, and return the resulting value.

See also : Expression

Expression :

A combination of constants, identifiers, operators, and functions that yield a single value when evaluated.

Increment :

To increase a value by a fixed amount, usually one. In Clipper language the increment operator (++) can be used to increment a numeric value in a variable.

List :

A list of expressions, field names, or filenames, separated by commas specified generally as command, procedure, or function arguments. Code blocks can also execute a list of expressions.

Macro :

In Clipper language, an operation that allows source code to be compiled and executed at runtime. In Clipper language, the macro symbol (&) does not perform text substitution unless embedded within a character string. Instead, it is generally treated as a unary operator that operates on a character string. The text in the character string is compiled on the fly using a special runtime compiler. The resulting code is then executed, and the value obtained is returned as the result of the macro operation.

See Also: Code Block, Unary Operator

Operand :

A value that is operated on by an operator, or the term in an expression that specifies such a value. For example, in the expression x + 5, x and 5 are operands.

See Also: Operator

Operator :

A symbol that identifies a basic operation. For example, the multiplication operator (*) denotes that two values are to be multiplied. Operators are categorized as either unary or binary, depending on whether they require one or two operands, respectively.

See Also: Binary Operator, Operand, Unary Operator

Precedence :

The stature of an operator in the hierarchy that determines the order in which expressions are evaluated. For example, the expression 5 + 2 * 3 is interpreted as 5 + (2 * 3) because the multiply operator (*) has a higher precedence than the addition operator (+).

See Also: Expression

Recursion :

The calling of a procedure by a statement in that same procedure. When a procedure calls itself it is said to recurse. A recursive call causes a new activation of the procedure. If the source code for the procedure includes a declaration of local variables, a new set of local variables is created for each activation. A private variable created by the procedure is associated with the activation in which it is created, and is visible in that activation and any lower-level activations, unless obscured by a private variable created in a lower-level activation.

See Also: Activation, Function, Private Variable, Procedure

Shortcutting :

A compiler optimization that causes expressions to be evaluated only to the extent required to determine their outcome. For example, in the expression f() .OR. g() function g need not be executed if function f returns true (.T.). Clipper language performs shortcutting on all logical operators (.OR. .AND. .NOT.).

Truncate :

To remove insignificant information from the end of an item of data. With numerics, to ignore any part of the number that falls outside of the specified precision.

Unary Operator :

An operator that operates on a single operand. For example, the .NOT. operator.

See Also: Binary Operator, Operator

General Terms

Posted on by vivaclipper

ASCII :

An acronym for the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, the agreed upon standard for representing characters (alphabetic, symbolic, etc.) in the memory of the computer.

Binary :

The numerical base upon which computer programs are modeled. Also referred to as base 2, it is a mathematical way of representing the electrical circuitry upon which computers operate. A 0 represents an off state, and a 1 indicates an on state. A combination of eight ons and offs are used to express bytes of program or data in memory.

See Also: Byte

Buffer :

A temporary data storage location in memory. As an example, a disk input-output buffer is an area of memory that stores data read from the disk to temporary locations while processing it.

Byte :

Eight bits of data, the smallest unit of information stored in the computer’s memory. As an example, one byte is required to represent one ASCII character.

Character :

A letter, digit, punctuation mark, or special symbol stored and processed by the computer.

See Also: ASCII String

Delimiter :

A character or other symbol that marks a boundary.

Destination :

The work area, file, or device to which data is sent.

Device :

Either an actual physical component of the computer system such as printer or a DOS handle that refers to it (e.g., PRN:), or a logical device that behaves and is addressed the same way as a physical device (e.g., a print spooler).

Disk :

A magnetic storage medium designed for long-term storage. Disks come in two varieties: hard disks (fast but fixed) or floppy disks (slow but removable). A disk can be partitioned into multiple volumes, each containing a tree-structured directory system that holds files accessible by programs.

See Also: Directory, File, Volume

Dynamic :

Used generically to refer to data or algorithms that change with time. Often used specifically to describe algorithms that automatically adjust to prevailing conditions.

Formfeed :

A special character (CHR(12)) that by convention causes most printers to move the printhead to the top of the next page.

See Also: Hard Carriage Return Linefeed

Hard Carriage Return :

An explicit carriage return character at the end of a line in a text file, as opposed to a soft carriage return that might be inserted into text by a program designed to handle word wrapping. A hard carriage return character is generated by the expression (CHR(13)) where a soft carriage return character is generated with the expression (CHR(141)).

Hexadecimal :

A representation of a value in base 16 rather than decimal which is base 10. Hexadecimal values are easily converted to and from binary (base 2) which is the form of data the computer actually uses. Hexadecimal values are represented by digits zero through nine and A through F for values between 10 and 15.

Extended Character Set :

The character set built into the ROM of the PC. This character set is a superset of ASCII, containing additional special characters (such as a line drawing character set) that may be used to enhance your program screens.

Linefeed :

A special character (CHR(10)) that by convention causes the cursor or printhead to move to the next line or to terminate a line in a text file. It is usually used in combination with a hard carriage return.

See Also: Formfeed, Hard Carriage Return

Port :

A designation for the hardware that allows the processor to communicate with peripheral devices.

Query :

A query is also a general term used when you want to interrogate a setting or an exported instance variable for its current value.

Queue :

A data structure of variable length where elements are added to one end and retrieved from the other. A queue is often described as first in, first out.

See Also: Print Spooler, Stack

Soft Carriage Return :

A carriage return that is introduced into text usually in order to implement some sort of wrap operation, as opposed to a Hard Carriage Return that was specifically entered into the text when it was created.

Stack :

A data structure of variable length whose elements are added and retrieved from the same end. A stack is often described as first in, last out.

See Also: Queue