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EXPAND
Guide Section: Processing Object Data | EASAP Tree: DATA PROCESSING → SCALAR
EXPAND defines one or more lines of text.
- EXPAND may use the contents of either
- Value:
- a text file as specified in File:
- A typical use of EXPAND might be to
- 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 an object reference to be used in Value:
 EXPAND |
|
|---|---|
| Optional Parameters: | |
| Value: | Text used to create complete line(s) for insertion into a batch input file, object references allowed. |
| File: | Name or object reference of file containing line(s) of text to use instead of Value: |
| Delimiter: | Character to delimit object references in Value: above. default→% |
| Encoding: | Text encoding used in File: default→US-ASCII |
| Value on Error: | Value of object when an object reference in Value: or File: is invalid |
For multiple lines of text in Value: use the 'Long String' editor, a new line created by typing <Enter> will be displayed in the parameter table as a space.
Example
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 object references referencing the objects, yc, xc and Lc, has been specified in Value:
If EXPAND is to be referenced in the Outputs: parameter of a MAP, you can avoid problems caused by invalid object references in Value: or Text: by setting Value on Error: for the EXPAND.