NOVAL

NOVAL

NOVAL represents a particular state of parameters. In this state, the parameter has no value at all. The parameter is neutral in all conditions and actions. If a parameter in the NOVAL state is, for example, output in a text, it is replaced with an empty string regardless of whether it is a string or a number.

Optional parameters are often initialized with NOVAL, for example to prevent an automatic value inquiry (see UNDEF). This initialization can be applied to individual parameters (f$NoVal), but also to whole groups of parameters (f$PGNoVal).