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Overview

SAS/AF provides the ability to pass parameters into user applications via the AF command. To accomplish this, SAS/AF utilizes a local environment list that contains a sublist named _CMDLIST_.

By default, _CMDLIST_ holds the four-level name of the starting entry for the application. This list will also contain any other parameters that might be passed into the application via the AF command. These parameters can be either standard AF command options (such as the TITLE option), or, they can be application-specific parameters that are needed by the individual application.

Here is the general form for application parameters:

<option-name=>option-value <... <option-name-n=>option-value-n> 

Use SCL Code to Retrieve the _CMDLIST_

Using SCL code, the _CMDLIST_ can be retrieved from the local environment list by using SCL list functions, which makes all parameters that are passed on the AF command available to the user-written application.

This sample illustrates how to pass parameters by using this method. In this sample, the SAS/AF application can optionally receive a parameter named ADMIN that holds the user ID of the administrator. If this parameter is specified, then the administrator will be greeted with a customized welcome message. Otherwise, a general greeting is displayed in the text field.

The ADMIN parameter is passed to the initial Frame entry for the application via the AF command by using the following syntax:

af c=myapps.mycat.main.frame admin=AFadmin

Within the SCL program for the Frame entry MYAPPS.MYCAT.MAIN.FRAME, the SCL code shown below can be used to retrieve the ADMIN parameter, if the parameter is specified on the AF command:

   dcl list local cmdlist;                                              
   dcl num chkadmin;                                                    
   dcl char(32) adminid;                                                
                                                                        
   INIT:                                                                
     local=envlist('L');                                                
     cmdlist=getniteml(local,'_CMDLIST_');                              
     call putlist(cmdlist,'cmdlist',0);                                 
                                                                        
     chkadmin=nameditem(cmdlist,'ADMIN');                               
                                                                        
     if chkadmin>0 then do;                                             
       adminid=getnitemc(cmdlist,'ADMIN');                              
       msgline.text='Welcome application administrator '||adminid||'.'; 
     end;                                                               
                                                                        
     else                                                               
       msgline.text='Welcome application user.';                        
   return;                                                              

When the AF command referenced above is executed, the administrator is greeted with the following message at the top of the AF window:

Otherwise, if the ADMIN parameter is not specified on the AF command, then the user is greeted with this general message:

Additional Documentation

For more information about SAS/AF, see the SAS/AF documentation page.

Operating System and Release Information