{"id":4124,"date":"2024-01-30T15:52:05","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T14:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microdata.no\/?p=4124"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:52:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T14:52:07","slug":"microdata-no-with-support-for-loops-and-bindings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microdata.no\/en\/microdata-no-with-support-for-loops-and-bindings\/","title":{"rendered":"Microdata.no with support for loops and bindings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Long scripts with repeating structure can be simplified and systematized\/generalized through the use of new functionality for bindings and loops. This is now possible through the use of the commands let and for.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Bindings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bindings are script-local, named entities that allow you to generalize\/automate scripts. Bindings are typically defined at the top of a script through the let<\/code> command, and can point to a numeric value, a string (text), a symbol, a binding, or combinations of these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A symbol is a specific object that you will later refer to, usually a variable. It does not necessarily have to be an existing variable, but can be inserted into an expression where the variable is to be generated. Symbols should not be specified with quotes like strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A typical use case for bindings is when referring to years or dates in connection with importing variables, adjusting variables, running statistics etc. Then you can create a binding to a given year where it is relevant, and if you find out that you want to run for another year, you just adjust the value of the binding instead of all places in the script where the year is located. In the script, you use the $ sign followed by the name of the binding where you want to point to the binding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of defining bindings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use help let<\/code> for the full syntax description for bindings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also use functions that operate only on bindings, also called procedures, in this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the command help-procedure<\/code> to read about what other procedures are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is possible to assemble and combine several bindings into one expression by using the ++<\/code> symbols. This corresponds to concatenating values\/text\/symbols into one combined expression. Note that numbers combined with text become text. Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example of using bindings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the example above, the procedure date_fmt()<\/code> is used. This is a very useful procedure that generates standard target dates for import commands (in the form YYYY-MM-DD), and can be used to make the script even more automated and streamlined. Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commands above generate the following date values:<\/p>\n\n\n\n