Definition of Import Parameters 

Use

You define import parameters in function calls and input validations for the export parameters of the function module or check function: You define a variable to which the parameter value is assigned in the PI sheet.

Import parameters of function calls are displayed in the PI sheet.
You can also use the variable to transfer the value to succeeding process instructions of the same PI sheet. Note, however, that the function may be carried out more than once in the course of PI sheet maintenance.

Features

When defining an import parameter, you specify the following information in the process instruction:

In the PI sheet, the text is displayed before the parameter value.
In input validations, you need not define a text since the parameter values are not displayed in the PI sheet.

The variable is valid within the PI sheet but not in the entire process order

To enter this information, you assign the following characteristics to the process instruction:

Characteristic

Meaning

Allowed values

PPPI_INPUT_REQUEST

Text
(in function calls only)

Any short text (see also Using Text Symbols)

PPPI_IMPORT_PARAMETER

Import parameter

Export parameter of the function module

Characteristic for the variable that has the same data type as the parameter (see below)

Variable for the parameter value

New variable name (see below)


Notes on Variable Definition

Characteristics for Variables

A variable can only be assigned a parameter value if it has the same data type as the parameter in the function module. The characteristic you use to define the variable also determines its data type. The following characteristics are available:

Characteristic for variable

Data type

PPPI_DATE_VARIABLE

Date

PPPI_TIME_VARIABLE

Time

PPPI_FLOAT_VARIABLE

Floating point number

PPPI_STRING_VARIABLE

Alphanumeric value


Variable name

In general, you can choose any name for a variable. To avoid conflicts with other functions, do not use: