RevMedia

As a developer it is easy to find oneself on client's site with a runtime version of the software and a need to compile a "quick and dirty" utility. In such a circumstance it can be useful to remember the fact that runtimes can compile dictionary items and that a dictionary item can contain up to 32K of source code - as long as it returns @ANS.

A useful technique is to use the DICT window to create a utility dictionary item, (E.G. TEMP on the DICT of VOC). Within the item one could open files, loop through updating records et al and when all was done, just return @ANS = "". Then to run the program type LIST 1 VOC TEMP at TCL. Be careful to include the "1" otherwise the program will execute once for every record in the VOC file.

The only caveat with this technique is to ensure that there is no direct screen printing output as otherwise the VIEW window will pause output every 20 or so lines requiring a page down to continue operation.