Enumerated
datatypes
About enumerated datatypes
Like the system object datatypes, enumerated datatypes are specific
to PowerScript. Enumerated datatypes are used in two ways:
-
As arguments in functions
-
To specify the properties of an object or control
You can list all the enumerated datatypes and their values by
selecting the Enumerated tab in the Browser.
You cannot create your own enumerated datatypes. As an alternative,
you can declare a set of constant variables and assign them initial
values. See Declaring
constants.
A variable of one of the enumerated datatypes can be assigned a
fixed set of values. Values of enumerated datatypes always end with an
exclamation point (!). For example, the enumerated datatype Alignment,
which specifies the alignment of text, can be assigned one of the
following three values: Center!, Left!, and Right!:
|
1 |
mle_edit.Alignment=Right! |
Incorrect syntax
Do not enclose an enumerated datatype value in quotation marks. If
you do, you receive a compiler error.
Advantages of enumerated types
Enumerated datatypes have an advantage over standard datatypes. When
an enumerated datatype is required, the compiler checks the data and makes
sure it is the correct type. For example, if you set an enumerated
datatype variable to any other datatype or to an incorrect value, the
compiler does not allow it.