IF PS_C_VCHR_CNTL_STG.ACCOUNTING_DT = $NULL_DT
EVALUATE PS_ORIGIN_AP_OPT.ACCOUNTING_DT_IND
WHEN = ‘D’
EVALUATE PS_BUS_UNIT_OPT_AP.ACCOUNTING_DT_IND

WHEN = ‘S’
MOVE PS_BUS_UNIT_OPT_AP.ACCOUNTING_DT TO $ACCOUNTING_DT

WHEN = ‘C’
MOVE PS_C_CYCLE_TBL.C_CYCLE_DT TO $ACCOUNTING_DT
END-EVALUATE

WHEN = ‘S’
MOVE PS_ORIGIN_AP_OPT.ACCOUNTING_DT TO $ACCOUNTING_DT
WHEN = ‘C’
MOVE PS_C_CYCLE_TBL.C_CYCLE_DT TO $ACCOUNTING_DT
END-EVALUATE
ELSE
MOVE PS_C_VCHR_CNTL_STG.ACCOUNTING_DT TO $ACCOUNTING_DT
IF PS_C_VCHR_HDR_STG.ACCOUNTING_DT > $ACCOUNTING_DT
MOVE PS_C_VCHR_HDR_STG.ACCOUNTING_DT TO $ACCOUNTING_DT
END-IF
IF $ACCOUNTING_DT <= PS_C_CYCLE_TBL.C_CYCLE_DT

SELECT B.OPEN_PERIOD_FROM
FROM PS_C_MONTH_TBL A, PS_BU_LED_GRP_TBL B
WHERE B.BUSINESS_UNIT = $BUSINESS_UNIT
AND B.LEDGER_GROUP = ‘ACTUALS’
AND B.OPEN_YEAR_FROM = A.YEAROFDATE
AND B.OPEN_PERIOD_FROM <= A.MONTHOFDATE
AND $ACCOUNTING_DT BETWEEN A.FROM_DATE AND A.THRU_DATE

IF $PERIOD_OPEN_FOUND = ‘N’
SELECT MON.FROM_DATE
FROM PS_C_MONTH_TBL MON
WHERE MON.YEAROFDATE = #YEAR of C_CYCLE_DT
AND C_CYCLE_DT BETWEEN MON.FROM_DATE AND MON.THRU_DATE
END-IF
END-IF
END-IF

i need to change to sql….thanks in advance

The following can jump with return to either the same or next line:
do
print (and the implied print on a database column listed in a SELECT)
print-image, print-chart
position
graphic box/horz-line/vert-line
next-listing, next-column, new-page, new-report
page-number, last-page, date-time
begin-document
connect
execute
end-program, end-report

The following can jump with a return to some point nearby (but not the next line):
begin-select (also listed below)
begin-sql

The following can jump without the possibility of return:
goto
when, when-other (evaluate)
if, else
while
break
exit-select
end-procedure, end-heading, end-footing
end-while
begin-select
end-select (or really the “from” line in the SQL)

First, the switch example with counting letters: yeah, it’ll work, but if I caught a C programmer writing that code, I’d have him shot. I realize, of course, that you’re not necessarily advocating people write code like that, but you’re using it as an example of what is possible.

Next, the example of opening files, which seems less contrived than the letter counting: you’re right that a C switch statement can’t handle it, but is that such a bad thing? Your scenario has a logical flow of steps, so why not let that shine through in the code by using ‘if’ statements – even in SQR?

And yet, I have to admit that’s a real nifty use of the evaluate. By giving ‘evaluate’ a constant of 0, and letting the ‘when’ statements do more work, it’s like turning a switch statement inside-out. Very cool (regardless of whether it’s good programming style or not).

Your other examples are also intriguing uses of ‘evaluate’. I’m tempted to respond to them by saying “hey, that’s easy to do in C; you just wouldn’t use a switch statement to do it”. But of course, you’re not the one who originally likened ‘evaluate’ to ’switch’; the SQR manual did that.

So your point that evaluate has very different abilities than switch is well taken and well supported. Nice article, Steve!

- Bob