Stonefield Query can use "user-defined" functions in various places, such as report fields. A user-defined function (UDF) is code that does something when it's called. UDFs allow you to do just about anything you wish, including:

• Create complex formulas and display the results in a report.

• Ask the user for a value and use that value in the report.

To create a UDF, create a text file called REPPROCS.PRG in the directory where Stonefield Query's data files are stored. Edit this file using any text editor (not a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, which stores binary files, but an editor such as Notepad that stores text files). This file can contain as many UDFs as you wish. Each UDF should start with "FUNCTION" followed by the UDF name and any parameters (in parentheses), and end with "RETURN" or "RETURN <variable or expression>."

Here's an example of a UDF. This function returns a descriptive value for a Call Priority value:

function GetPriority(tcPriorityCode)
local lcPriorityDesc

lcPriorityDesc = ''
tcPriorityCode = ALLTRIM(tcPriorityCode)

do case

	case tcPriorityCode == '1'
		lcPriorityDesc = 'Urgent'
	case tcPriorityCode == '2'
		lcPriorityDesc = 'Important'
	case tcPriorityCode == '3'
		lcPriorityDesc = 'Normal'
	otherwise
		lcPriorityDesc = 'Unimportant'
		
endcase

return lcPriorityDesc

To use this UDF in a Call report, create a new report and add the desired fields, including the "Priority Code" field. Click the Formula button in Step 2 to display the Formula Editor. Type a name for the formula, such as "Priority Description" and enter the following for the formula's expression:

GetPriority(CALLLOG.PRIORITY)

CALLLOG.PRIORITY is the name of the field in this example that contains the "Priority Code".

Click OK to close the Formula Editor. The formula appears in the Available Fields list. Add it to the Selected list. When you run the report, it shows the description for a Priority Code.