DEFINED preprocessor function
- Last Updated: February 11, 2026
- 1 minute read
- OpenEdge
- Version 13.0
- Documentation
Returns the status of a preprocessor name or include file argument name as an INTEGER value. You can use the DEFINED function only within a preprocessor &IF expression.
Syntax
|
- name
- Preprocessor name or include file argument name whose status you want to check. You do
not specify name as a preprocessor name reference or include file
argument reference. That is, it is not quoted and does not appear in the reference form,
{&name}. For example if you had a preprocessor name
MAX-EXPENSE, the argument would appear as follows:
DEFINED(MAX-EXPENSE)
Notes
This function returns a value of 1 if the argument was a name defined with the &GLOBAL-DEFINE directive; a value of 2 if the argument was passed as an include file parameter; and a value of 3 if the argument was a name defined with the &SCOPED-DEFINE directive. If the argument was not defined and was not an include file parameter, then this function returns a value of 0. The value returned refers to the definition that is current at the point of the call.
See also
{ } Include file reference, &GLOBAL-DEFINE preprocessor directive, &SCOPED-DEFINE preprocessor directive