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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).
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.
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
|-
|-
|}
|}