Difference Between Define and Compute

A variety of temporary fields can be created from existing fields in the database by using the COMPUTE and DEFINE commands. Both methods calculate the temporary fields after records are selected per the screening criteria. The major difference between COMPUTE and DEFINE is the point of calculation.

Computed fields are calculated on the results of a display command after the selected records have been sorted and summed. For example:

EX AC

TABLE FILE AC

PRINT AC:CLASS AC:BASEPAY

and COMPUTE NEWSAL = AC:BASEPAY * 1.03;

BY AC:WNAME

IF AC:CBID EQ R03

END

Defined fields are calculated on the selected records before the sorts and display commands are applied. For example:

EX AC

define file ac add

NEWSAL = AC:BASEPAY * 1.03;

end

TABLE FILE AC

PRINT AC:CLASS AC:BASEPAY newsal

BY AC:WNAME

IF AC:CBID EQ R03

END