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→Differences between an action block and a macro?
== Kinds of variables used ==
== Kinds of variables used ==
Action blocks work with their own set of variables (plus Global ones if necessary) whose values can be passed from/to the calling macro.
Three kinds of variables can be used inside an action block: Input, Output and Working ones. Each one can be of any type (boolean, integer, decimal, string, array/dictionary).
Three kinds of variables can be used inside an action block: Input, Output and Working ones. Each one can be of any type (boolean, integer, decimal, string, array/dictionary).
All these variables are implicitly local and their lifetime is limited to action block execution. Their default values (see below) will be restored at the end of the execution so it is not possible to retreive previous values from a previous run (except when using Global variables).
All these variables are implicitly local and their lifetime is limited to action block execution. Their default values (see below) will be restored at the end of the execution so it is not possible to retreive previous values from a previous run (except when using Global variables).
Working variables are used to make all kinds of calculations/comparisons inside the action block, like any variable according to its type. The only difference with Input and Output ones is that they <b>do not appear</b> in the variables list when configuring the call, as they are not useful to the calling macro.
{|border="1" cellpadding="2"
|+Schematic way variables interact between Macros and Action blocks
!width="10"|Step #
!width="150"|Where from
!width="150"|Kind of variable
!width="400"|When
|-
|1
|Macro
|rowspan="2"|Local<br/>Input
|rowspan="2"|Call configuration time
|-
|rowspan="3"|2
|rowspan="3"|Action block
|-
|Input<br/>Working<br/>Output
|Action block process
|-
|rowspan="2"|Output<br/>Local
|rowspan="2"|Call configuration time
|-
|3
|Macro
|}
== Input and Output Parameters ==
== Input and Output Parameters ==
== Differences between an action block and a macro?==
== Differences between an action block and a macro?==
A quick explanation might be: Macros are programs, action blocks are functions.
A quick explanation might be: Macros are programs, Action blocks are functions.
Below is a table that better describes the main differences.
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="200"|
!width="500"|Capabilities
!width="100"|A Macro
!width="80"|Macros
!width="150"|An Action Block
!width="80"|Action blocks
|-
|-
|Has a disabling switch?
|Has a disabling switch
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Can be categorized?
|Can be categorized
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Has a trigger component?
|Has a trigger component
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Triggers can be constrained individually?
|Triggers can be constrained individually
|Yes
|Yes
|Triggers not available
|N/A
|-
|-
|Has an action set component?
|Has an action set component
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Actions can include “Wait For Trigger?”
|Actions can include “Wait For Trigger"
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|-
|-
|Actions can be grouped into condition sets?
|Actions can be grouped into condition sets
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Actions can be constrained individually?
|Actions can be constrained individually
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Has a constraint set component to apply to all actions?
|Has a constraint set component applied to all actions
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Can read & edit global variables?
|Can create, read & update global variables
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Can include local variables?
|Can create, read & update calling macro's local variables
|Yes
|N/A
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Can include input variables?
|Can include Input variables
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Can include those new “working variables?”
|Can include Working variables
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Can include output variables?
|Can include Output variables
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|}
|}