You can also organize and store r-code in an ABL archive (.apl file). An archive is a library that supports code signing. The r-code files in an archive are known as members. Archives allow you to manage and execute r-code more efficiently.

An archive contains r-code that executes in local memory. You create archives by using the PROPACK utility. For information about using the PROPACK utility to create and manage archives, see Manage archive libraries.

When loading and executing r-code from operating system files in a directory, OpenEdge must open and close each file individually. When loading and executing r-code from archive libraries, OpenEdge opens only one file—the library itself—to access all of the members in the library.

When you execute members from an archive, you gain the following advantages:

  • Faster access to r-code (for non-signed archives)
  • Fewer file open and close operations

For signed archives, there is a cost for validating the r-code on the first use during the session.