NUM-REFERENCES attribute

The number of references to a buffer, ProDataSet, or temp-table object that is defined as a parameter to which reference-only objects are bound.

Data type:

INTEGER

Access:

Read-only

Applies to:

Buffer object handle, ProDataSet object handle, Temp-table object handle

Use this attribute to determine whether a buffer, ProDataSet, or temp-table object is referenced by another procedure before you delete the defining procedure or the referenced object itself (if it is a dynamic object).

If the buffer, ProDataSet, or temp-table object is not referenced by any other procedure (or other such object), this attribute returns 0. Otherwise, this attribute returns the number of procedures (or other such objects) currently referencing the object.

This attribute applies to objects defined as reference-only parameters, not shared objects.

See also:

DEFINE DATASET statement (REFERENCE-ONLY option), DEFINE TEMP-TABLE statement (REFERENCE-ONLY option), DELETE OBJECT statement, DELETE PROCEDURE statement, RUN statement