Binds, Introduction

version 1.5

A bind is a link that you establish between a table/field—called a "couple"—on the server and a local table/field, variable, or array.

To modify a record, create a new record or load the data from a current record, you create a bind and establish a link between the server fields and the local fields or variables in which the data will be displayed and/or modified.

To retrieve or send data from the 4D Server database by using arrays, you create a bind and establish a link between the server fields and the local arrays that will contain the data.

The routines that you use for data manipulation depend on whether your binds involve fields, variables or arrays. The following table describes which routines can be used with each type of 4th Dimension object.

Objects	Routines
Variables or fields	OP New record
	OP Update record
	OP Load record
	OP Goto record
	OP Goto selected record
Arrays	OP Selection to array
	OP Array to selection
	OP Subselection to array
	and the Records commands (listed in the Records section)

The following routines allow you to create, define and delete binds:

• OP Create bind creates an empty bind list in memory.

• OP Define bind by numbers and/or OP Define bind by pointer - define a bind that has been created with OP Create bind.

Note: You can use OP Define bind by numbers or OP Define bind by pointer on the same bind.

• OP Delete bind - allows you to free the memory used by a bind created with OP Create bind.

• OP Set format - sets the format used when non-alphanumeric values are converted to alphanumeric values and vice versa.