NET/MASTER Network Control Language (NCL) Programmer's Guide

The Structure of Mapped Data Object (MDO) Variables
Working With Mapping Services
10–10 106160 Tandem Computers Incorporated
Referring to a Whole MDO Variable From NCL
A stem variable is a simple or complex variable that ends with a period (.). A stem is
used as a prefix for compound variables. Syntactically, MDO variables are compound
variables. You use the stem of an MDO variable from an NCL procedure to refer to
the whole MDO variable. Referring to the stem refers to all compound variables under
the stem.
The following example refers to the whole MDO variable that is created by the
MSGREAD verb when it reads a message—notice the trailing period (.):
&$MSG.
Note You must distinguish between the following two variable names. The first variable does not have a trailing
period and is a simple variable, not a stem variable. The second variable has a trailing period and is a
stem variable; it may be the stem of an MDO variable.
&$MSG /* No trailing period—a simple variable */
&$MSG. /* Has a trailing period—a stem variable */
The following MSGPROC NCL procedure refers to the stem of an MDO variable:
zex1004n: PROCEDURE
/* MSGPROC procedure to analyze MDO stem */
DO FOREVER
MSGREAD VARS=&word*
IF &word1 = "TEST" THEN DO
SAY "&$MSG is "&$msg
SAY "&$MSG. is "&$msg.
MSGCONT
END
ELSE
MSGCONT
END
END zex1004n