Language overview
Before you can use Z Common Data Provider
System Data Engine language statements to create custom definitions, you must understand the concept
of constants, data types, expressions, conditions, and functions.
Constants
You can specify a value explicitly by writing a string constant, an integer constant, or a floating-point constant.
Comments
To explain your text, use comments to add explanations that are ignored by the System Data Engine.
Statements
The input in the System Data Engine is a sequence of statements. The statements must be separated by semicolons (;). The semicolons are not considered a part of the statement and are not shown in syntax diagrams.
Data types
The main task of the System Data Engine is to process data. The smallest unit of data is called a value. There are different types of values that can be obtained from a field of a record, stated in your definition, or computed from other values.
Date and time strings
Date and time strings are character strings of a specific format, and are used to write specific date and time values.
Operators
You can specify values by using arithmetic operations on numbers, comparisons, and logical operations. These operations are specified by an infix operator (which is an operator between operands), or by a prefix operator (which is an operator in front of operands).
Expressions
In Z Common Data Provider System Data Engine language statements, expressions are used to specify calculations for processing the data.
Conditions
In Z Common Data Provider System Data Engine language statements, an expression that specifies a value of true
or false
is called a condition .
Functions
A function call is a special form of expression. You can use a function call directly in the statements whenever the syntax specifies an expression. You can also use it as a part of more complex expressions.