The Macro Language

The ICAM macro language is used for the customization of post-processors, as well as for the customization of control emulators and Virtual Machine models. When a post-processor is running in tandem with a Virtual Machine model, the post-processor macro environment is shared with the model macro environment. Care must be taken to avoid conflicts in variable usage between macros of these different components. CERUN does not run within the same environment as GENER, so conflicts between control emulator and post-processor macros are not an issue.

Macros allow the post-processor to manipulate the records from an input CL file to alter the sequence of CL records that are processed. Macros can construct new CL records for processing, or suppress or modify CL records found in the input CL file. Macro features also exist to reposition the input CL file record pointer and to read and write to external files (and much more).