An ABL include file is a file that contains ABL code that is included in another procedure or class when the procedure or class is compiled. The extension of an ABL include file is .i. You use include files to place common code in a separate file where the common code is typically shared by other procedures or classes in your application. A best practice is to place the definitions of a temp-table that is shared by user interface logic and business logic into an include file.

The following example code shows a temp-table definition placed in a separate file called ttOrder.i.
/* ttOrder.i */

DEFINE TEMP-TABLE ttOrder NO-UNDO
  FIELD OrderNum AS INTEGER
  FIELD OrderDate AS DATE
  FIELD ShipDate AS DATE
  FIELD PromiseDate AS DATE
  FIELD OrderTotal AS DECIMAL
  INDEX OrderNum IS UNIQUE PRIMARY OrderNum.
To use the include file in your code, surround the pathname of the include file with curly braces ({}) and place it in the code where you would like it to go. A temp-table definition would typically go near the beginning. You can specify a path relative to the PROPATH environment variable.
/* myProcedure.p */

BLOCK-LEVEL ON ERROR UNDO, THROW.

{ttOrder.i}

/* code to populate the ttOrder temp-table*/
See also

{ } Include file reference

Using include files to duplicate code