You can insert code in the COBOL code of generated instances
by inserting micropatterns or snippets.
There are two types of micropatterns:
- Some micropatterns are operators with a strong added value. They
fetch information from the design or from the use context. You insert
them in Macros or in the COBOL code of a Program, Screen, or Server.
When the instance is generated again, they automatically produce the
corresponding code lines. Each micropattern declaration is kept in
the code as it was entered. You can then modify this declaration later
and generate the instance again to take the modification into account.
- Other micropatterns are operators with a low added value. They
are used to retrieve the Pacbase data.
They are recognized upon generation to produce a code identical to
the Pacbase code.
You must not enter them in the code because they have a low added
value. It is advised to enter the corresponding code lines instead.
Snippets provide a data entry form to insert code. You
must insert them by dragging them within the code. Insertion wizards
prompt you to assign values to the variables of some snippets. When
they are inserted, snippets drop the corresponding code lines, which
do not keep trace of the snippet declaration. To make any changes,
you must modify the code lines manually in the
PDP COBOL editor or in
the Macro editor.
Note: Some snippets (WS, WI, WE, WS)
make it easier to declare certain micropatterns. These snippets insert
the code that corresponds to the micropattern declaration.