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Message parameters

In calls to the MSG output subroutines in ADAM applications, the message name is the name of an ADAM message parameter which can be associated with message text specified in the ADAM interface file instead of the text given in the subroutine argument. Message text specified in an interface file may include message tokens in the normal way.

If the message parameter is not specified in the interface file, the text given in the argument list is used.

Here is an example of using MSG_OUT within an ADAM application:

      CALL MSG_OUT( 'RD_TAPE', 'Reading tape.', STATUS )

This statement will result in the message:

Reading tape.

If the message parameter, `RD_TAPE', is associated with a different text string in the interface module, e.g.

message RD_TAPE
   text 'The program is currently reading the tape, please wait.'
endmessage

then the output message would be the one defined in the interface file, i.e.

The program is currently reading the tape, please wait.

This facility enables ADAM applications to conveniently support foreign languages. However, it is recommended that message parameters used in applications software are not normally defined in the interface file. If message parameters are defined in the interface file of an application, then it is clearly necessary to ensure that the text associated with each message parameter imparts essentially the same information as the text used within the program code, even if they are in different languages.



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Next: Parameter references
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MERS (MSG and ERR) Message and Error Reporting Systems
Starlink User Note 104
P C T Rees
A J Chipperfield
22 October 2001
E-mail:ussc@star.rl.ac.uk

Copyright © 2001 Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils