RELEASE

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Deletes specified memory variables.

Syntax

RELEASE <memvar list> |
ALL
  [LIKE <memvar skeleton 1>]
  [EXCEPT <memvar skeleton 2>]

<memvar list>

The specific memory variables to release from memory, separated by commas.

ALL

Removes all variables in memory (except system memory variables).

LIKE <memvar skeleton 1>

Removes from memory all memory variables whose names are like the memory variable skeleton you specify for <memvar skeleton 1>. Use characters of the variable names and the wildcards * and ? to create <memvar skeleton 1>.

EXCEPT <memvar skeleton 2>

Removes from memory all memory variables except those whose names are like the memory variable skeleton you specify for <memvar skeleton 2>. Use characters of the variable names and the wildcards * and ? to create <memvar skeleton 2>. You can use LIKE and EXCEPT in the same statement, for example, RELEASE ALL LIKE ?_* EXCEPT c_*.

Description

Use RELEASE to clear memory variables. To remove large groups of variables, use the option ALL [LIKE <memvar skeleton 1>] [EXCEPT <memvar skeleton 2>].

If you issue RELEASE ALL [LIKE <memvar skeleton 1>] [EXCEPT <memvar skeleton 2>] in a program or function, dBASE Plus releases only the local and private variables declared in that routine. It doesn't release public or static variables, or variables declared in higher-level routines.

To release a variable by name, that variable must be in scope. For example, you may release a private variable declared in a higher-level routine by name, because the private variable is still visible; but you cannot release a local variable the same way because the local variable is not visible outside its routine.

Note

RELEASE does not explicitly release objects. However, if the only reference to an object is in a memory variable, releasing the variable with RELEASE will in turn release the object. In contrast, RELEASE OBJECT will explicitly release an object, but it does not release any variables that used to point to that object.

When control returns from a subroutine to its calling routine, dBASE Plus clears from memory all variables initialized in the subroutine that weren't declared PUBLIC or STATIC. Thus, you don't have to release a routine's local or private variables explicitly with RELEASE before the routine terminates.