METHOD_LIST

The method_list category defines methods that can be associated with data blocks, categories, subcategories, and items. This category attempts to capture only the essential information required to define these methods, without defining any implementation details. The implementation details are appropriately left to application dictionary developers. It is assumed here, that within a domain of dictionaries, a consistent method interface will be adopted that is tailored to the requirements of that domain. This of course complicates the sharing of methods between domains; however, it would be impossible at this time to define an implementation strategy inside the DDL that would even begin to satisfy the diverse requirements of potential DDL users. Consequently, the definition of each method is limited to its unique identifier, _method_list.id; a textual description, _method_list.detail; the source text of the method, _method_list.inline; the name of the language in which the method is expressed, _method_list.language; and a code to identify the the purpose of the method, _method_list.code.

The DDL for the method_list category is given in the following section.

save_METHOD_LIST

    _category.description
;
    Attributes specifying the list of methods applicable to data items,
    sub-categories, and categories.     
;
    _category.id                         method_list
    _category.mandatory_code             no 
    _category_key.name                 '_method_list.id'
     loop_
    _category_group.id
                                        'ddl_group'
                                        'item_group'
                                        'category_group'
     save_


save__method_list.id

    _item_description.description
;
     Identity of method in the list referenced by _method.id
;
     loop_
    _item.name                 
    _item.category_id          
    _item.mandatory_code       
         '_method_list.id'                   method_list            yes
         '_item_methods.method_id'           item_methods           yes
         '_category_methods.method_id'       category_methods       yes
         '_sub_category_methods.method_id'   sub_category_methods   yes
         '_datablock_methods.method_id'      datablock_methods      yes
    _item_type.code                      idname                  
     loop_
    _item_linked.child_name
    _item_linked.parent_name
         '_item_methods.method_id'             '_method_list.id'
         '_category_methods.method_id'         '_method_list.id'
         '_sub_category_methods.method_id'     '_method_list.id'
         '_datablock_methods.method_id'        '_method_list.id'
     save_

save__method_list.detail

    _item_description.description
;
     Description of application method in _method_list.id           
;
    _item.name                         '_method_list.detail'     
    _item.category_id                    method_list    
    _item.mandatory_code                 no  
    _item_type.code                      text           
     save_


save__method_list.inline

    _item_description.description
;
     Inline text of a method associated with the data item.
;
    _item.name                         '_method_list.inline'  
    _item.category_id                    method_list
    _item.mandatory_code                 yes 
    _item_type.code                      text
     save_


save__method_list.code

    _item_description.description
;
     A code that describes the function of the method.     
;
    _item.name                         '_method_list.code'    
    _item.category_id                    method_list
    _item.mandatory_code                 yes 
    _item_type.code                      code
     loop_
    _item_examples.case
    _item_examples.detail
          calculation      'method to calculate the item '
          verification     'method to verify the data item '
          cast             'method to provide cast conversion '
          addition         'method to define item + item '
          division         'method to define item / item '
          multiplication   'method to define item * item '
          equivalence      'method to define item = item '
          other            'miscellaneous method '
     save_


save__method_list.language

    _item_description.description
;
     Language in which the method is expressed.
;
    _item.name                         '_method_list.language'
    _item.category_id                    method_list
    _item.mandatory_code                 yes 
    _item_type.code                      code 
     loop_
    _item_examples.case                  BNF 
                                         C 
                                         C++ 
                                         FORTRAN 
                                         LISP 
                                         PASCAL 
                                         PEARL 
                                         TCL 
                                         OTHER
     save_