17. RETURNED-ABS-GEN-NO (halfword binary)

The absolute generation number of the table being accessed is returned to the user’s extended command area and can be used to verify that the same generation of the table is being used from one call to the next.

The absolute generation number is returned whenever tableBASE processes an open table. This includes:

  • All fetch commands
  • All update commands
  • Open commands
  • Get Definition of an open table
  • Commands when the table should be closed but is open, incorrectly or unexpectedly, e.g., Delete Generation, Change Generation, ReName, Define Table commands.

The absolute generation number is not returned by successful Close commands nor by successful ‘closed table’ commands, e.g. CG, DG, RN, XT.