`<call>`

The <call> element allows you to place a <block> of Macro Language code into the Macro Language query you are currently working in, but not access the encapsulating <block>'s variables.

Description

The <call> element inserts a <block> of Macro Language at the location in the query where the <call> element appears.

<call> can be used in the context of a <block>. When <call> is used to reference a <block>, the <block> being called has no access to the encapsulating <block>'s variables or values.

If you want access to the encapsulating <block>'s variables or values, use <insert> instead of <call>. If you want to be able to both access and modify the encapsulating <block>'s variables, use <expand>.

Syntax

<call block="[NAME_OF_BLOCK]" [[VAR_1]="[VALUE_1]"
        [VAR_2]="[VALUE_2]"...
        [VAR_N]="[VALUE_N]"]/>

Attributes

block: Specifies the <block> (code and defined variables) to insert into the current query.

The <call> element may take any number of additional attributes, which should match the attributes in the <block> opening tag that defines the called <block>. The [VALUE] of a [VAR]="[VALUE]" attribute is substituted wherever {@[VAR]} appears within the called <block>.

Example

In this example, the base table is pub.demo.retail.item.

<base table="pub.demo.retail.item"/>
<library>
  <block name="storeSelection" storechoice="">
    <sel value="store={@storechoice}"/>
  </block>
</library>

<call block="storeSelection" storechoice="3"/>

At the location of the <call> statement, the <block> named storeSelection is expanded using the storechoice attribute, and the value for storechoice (3) is substituted for {@storechoice} within the <block>, effectively resulting in the following operation:

<sel value="store=3"/>