Guide Section: Processing Object Data | EASAP Tree: DATA PROCESSING Branch

EXPAND defines one or more lines of text. The option is available for using the contents of either the Value: parameter or a text file as specified in the File: parameter. Typical uses of EXPAND follow:

• Define lines of commands that are added to a template batch file based on inputs from the user

• Store and format text to be used in the results reporting

Very often command lines within a batch input file for software applications will contain both fixed text, such as keywords or commands, together with numerical or text values or inputs that are variable. To account for the variable inputs, EXPAND allows Delimited Object References to be used in the Value:.

EXPAND
Optional Parameters:
Value:	Text used to create complete line(s) for insertion into a batch input file. DORs allowed
File:	Name of file containing line(s) of text used instead of Value:. DORs allowed
Delimiter:	Character to act as delimiter in DORs in Value: above. default→%
Encoding:	Text encoding used in File: default→US-ASCII
Value on Error:	Value of object when DORs in Value: or File: are invalid

Note: When you enter multiple lines of text in the Value: parameter using the 'Long String' editor, the new lines created by typing the Enter key are displayed in the parameter table as spaces.

An example of an EXPAND as it will appear in EASAP Builder is shown below.

In this case, a single line of text that contains three DORs referencing the objects, yc, xc and Lc, has been specified in the Value: parameter.

Tip: If EXPAND is to be referenced in the Outputs: parameter of a MAP, you can avoid problems caused by invalid DORs in the Value: or Text: parameters of an EXPAND by setting its Value on Error: parameter.