&IF, &THEN, &ELSEIF, &ELSE, and &ENDIF preprocessor directives

These directives set logical conditions for the inclusion of blocks of code to compile.

Syntax

&IF expression &THEN
  block
[ &ELSEIF expression &THEN
  block]...
[ &ELSE
  block]
&ENDIF
expression
An expression that can contain preprocessor name references, the operators listed in the "Preprocessor operators" table below, the ABL functions listed in the "Functions allowed in preprocessor expressions" table below, and the DEFINED( ) preprocessor function.

When it encounters an &IF directive, the preprocessor evaluates the expression that immediately follows. This expression can continue for more than one line; the &THEN directive indicates the end of the expression. If the expression evaluates to TRUE, then the block of code between it and the next &ELSEIF, &ELSE, or &ENDIF is compiled. If the expression evaluates to FALSE, the block of code is not compiled and the preprocessor proceeds to the next &ELSEIF, &ELSE, or &ENDIF directive. No include files referenced in this block of code are included in the final source. You can nest &IF directives.

The expression that follows the &ELSEIF directive is evaluated only if the &IF expression tests false. If the &ELSEIF expression tests TRUE, the block of code between it and the next &ELSEIF, &ELSE, or &ENDIF directive is compiled. If the &ELSEIF expression tests FALSE, the preprocessor proceeds to the next &ELSEIF, &ELSE, or &ENDIF directive.

The block of code between the &ELSE and &ENDIF directives is compiled only if the &IF expression and the &ELSEIF expressions all test false. If there are no &ELSEIF directives, the block of code is compiled if the &IF expression tests false.

Once any &IF or &ELSEIF expression evaluates to TRUE, no other block of code within the &IF...&ENDIF block is compiled.

The &ENDIF directive indicates the end of the conditional tests and the end of the final block of code to compile.

The following table shows how preprocessor expressions are evaluated.

Table 1. Preprocessor expressions
Type of expression TRUE FALSE
LOGICAL TRUE FALSE
CHARACTER non-empty empty
INTEGER non-zero 0
INT64 non-zero 0
DECIMAL not supported not supported

The following table lists the operators supported within preprocessor expressions. These operators have the same precedence as the regular ABL operators.

Table 2. Preprocessor operators
Operator Description
+ Addition
- Subtraction
* Multiplication
/ Division
= Equality
<> Inequality
> Greater than
< Less than
=> Greater than or equal to
<= Less than or equal to
AND Logical and
OR Logical or
NOT Logical not
BEGINS Compares the beginning letters of two expressions
MATCHES Compares two strings

The following table lists the ABL functions supported within preprocessor expressions.

Table 3. Functions allowed in preprocessor expressions
ABSOLUTE ASC AUDIT-ENABLED
DATE DAY DBTYPE
DECIMAL ENCODE ENTRY
ETIME EXP FILL
INDEX INT64 INTEGER
KEYWORD KEYWORDALL LC
LEFT-TRIM LENGTH LIBRARY
LOG LOOKUP MATCHES
MAXIMUM MEMBER MINIMUM
MODULO MONTH NUM-ENTRIES
OPSYS PROCESS-ARCHITECTURE PROPATH
PROVERSION RANDOM REPLACE
RIGHT-TRIM R-INDEX ROUND
SQRT STRING SUBSTITUTE
SUBSTRING TIME TODAY
TRIM TRUNCATE WEEKDAY
YEAR

Notes

  • When the preprocessor evaluates expressions, all arithmetic operations are performed with integers. Preprocessor name references used in arithmetic operations must evaluate to integers.

See also

&GLOBAL-DEFINE preprocessor directive, &SCOPED-DEFINE preprocessor directive, &UNDEFINE preprocessor directive