New Functions for SAPscript Symbols as of 3.0 

Description

General information:

• Symbol names can have a maximum of 130 characters. However, only the first 32 characters are taken into account for distinguishing the symbols (previously 22 characters).

• In the editor, symbols can be selected from a list via the function 'Include' -> 'Symbols'. By selecting an symbol name, possible symbol options can be entered in a subsequent dialog box.

• In the table TTXPS, the tables or structures to whose fields you can refer from the text in question can be stored for each text ID. Via the function 'Include' -> 'Symbols' -> 'Program' the list of these tables is displayed in the editor. With selection, you reach the field list for the respective table from which the required program symbol can then be chosen. You can always refer to fields of the structures SYST and USR03 and SAPSCRIPT.

• Program symbols take their value from the corresponding TABLES work areas which are defined in the calling program. Since several call levels can now exist until the SAPscript program interface is reached, it must be determined which one of these should be used for the replacement of program symbols. Normally it is the program called up first. In the OPEN_FORM, a specific program could alternatively be entered (field TDPROGRAM in the reference structure ITCPO of the parameter OPTIONS). This specification applied to the entire output editing up to the CLOSE_FORM. As of 3.0 the program name for program symbol replacement can also be specified for the function module START_FORM .

New symbols:

• Counter variable SAPSCRIPT-COUNTERx (x = 0..9). These symbols can be used for counting. With the option '+' or '-' their value can be increased or reduced by 1 before output. With the control command DEFINE the value of these counting symbols can be filled with an initial value.

New editing options:

• 'T' suppresses the output of the thousands sign for numbers

• 'Z' now also works for leading zeros in CHAR fields

• 'Z' suppresses leading zeros in the month/day field of date fields even if no date mask is entered.

• '+' increments the value of a SAPscript counter variable

• '-' decrements the value of a SAPscript counter

Control commands

• When defining a symbol value via the control command DEFINE, symbols which occurred in the value were not immediately replaced by their value but only at the time of output of the target symbol. If instead of the '=' character for the DEFINE command the ':=' character is used, all symbols occurring in the value to be assigned are immediately replaced by their current value. Only after all occurring symbols are replaced, is the character string now available assigned to the target symbol. However, the value length is limited in this case to a maximum of 80 characters. As before, the target symbol must be a text symbol.
  

Total number of pages

Description

From Release 3.0 it is possible to output the total number of pages on any page:

2 new system symbols have been implemented for this (uppercase!):

• &SAPSCRIPT-FORMPAGES&
  Total number of pages relating to the current output form

• &SAPSCRIPT-JOBPAGES&
  Total number of pages relating to all output forms generated with the function modules OPEN_FORM, START_FORM .. ENDFORM, START_FORM .. END_FORM, ... CLOSE_FORM

Examples:

Page &PAGE& of &SAPSCRIPT-FORMPAGES(C)&
Outputs the current page number and the total number of pages. The addition (C) outputs the symbol in compressed form, i.e., leading blanks in the default 4-character output are not displayed.

Number of output pages: &SAPSCRIPT-JOBPAGE(C)&
Outputs the total number of pages. Caution: When you use this symbol, all output pages must be held in main storage in order that the total number of pages can be set at the end of the output. With large output this may impair performance.