TACL Reference Manual

Statements and Programs
HP NonStop TACL Reference Manual—429513-018
5-2
Function Calls
enclosure
specifies that TACL defers expansion of enclosed code until a specific path is
selected. (See Considerations.) An enclosure can be used only in a #CASE, #DEF,
#IF, or #LOOP built-in function call. An enclosure consists of one or more pairs of
labels and text:
label
A label is a text constant or a space-separated list of text constants, enclosed
in vertical lines. Each label precedes and identifies a given portion of text
(which may be empty).
The text within the vertical lines depends on the type of statement; for
example, the label used with the #DEF built-in function is |BODY|.
text
is a string of text that can include one or more function calls as defined
previously. TACL expands this text if the associated label is selected by the
condition in the controlling #CASE, #DEF, #IF, or #LOOP built-in function. Any
square brackets within an enclosure must balance. The last enclosure within
the controlling function call is terminated by the right square bracket (]) that
ends the function call.
comment
is a valid comment, initiated with double equal sign characters (==) or surrounding
braces ({}), which can include text. (The COMMENT command is a function call.)
Considerations
•
Note that function-call can be a built-in function or command supplied in the TACL
software or a user-defined TACL program; all are handled in the same manner.
•
When you enter a program name (such as RELOAD or USERS) as your function
call, TACL performs an implicit RUN command. TACL starts the program and then
provides the new process with the parameters you entered after the program
name. The process then carries out your instructions.
•
You can place more than one function call on a physical line. To separate the
statements, use a logical end-of-line marker (~;).
•
TACL interprets each line or logical line (~;) as the end of a statement unless:
°
There are unbalanced left square brackets, in which case TACL processes
lines until all brackets are balanced.
°
The line ends with a continuation character (&), in which case TACL treats the
next line as a continuation of the first line.
•
For information about how TACL interprets each line, see How TACL Interprets
Statements on page 5-11.