Record

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A record is a highly structured data type in Pascal. They are widely used in Pascal, to group data items together logically.

While simple data structures such as arrays or sets consist of elements all of the same type, a record can consist of a number of elements of different types, and can take on a huge complexity. Each separate part of a record is referred to as a field.

The record is reserved word.

Declaration

Fixed structure

type
	TMember = record
		firstname, surname : string;
		address: array [1..3] of string;
		phone: string;
		birthdate: TDateTime;
		paidCurrentSubscription: boolean
	end;

Variable structure

And even more complex structures are possible, eg:

type
	maritalStates = (ms_single, ms_married, ms_widowed, ms_divorced);
	TPerson = record
		// CONSTANT PART
		// of course records may be nested
		name: record
			first, middle, last: string;
		end;
		sex: (male, female);
		// date of birth
		dob: TDateTime;
		// VARIABLE PART
		case maritalStatus: maritalStates of
			ms_single: ( );
			ms_married, ms_widowed: (marriageDate: TDateTime);
			ms_divorced: (marriageDate, divorceDate: TDateTime;
				isFirstDivorce: boolean)			
	end;

The fields of the variable part are only available after assignment of its depending variable. It doesn't harm, whether the field marriageDate is defined multiple times.

Advanced record

An “advanced record” is a record with methods and properties.

  Note: Remember to add a compiler directive {$modeSwitch advancedRecords} (after you have set the mode).

Addressing

Fields

Individual fields are accessed by placing a dot between the record name and the field name thus:

	a.firstname := 'George';
	a.surname := 'Petersen';
	a.phone := '789534';
	a.paidCurrentSubscription := true;

Alternatively, the whole series of fields can be made available together using the with-construct:

with a do
begin
	firstname := 'George';
	surname := 'Petersen';
	phone := '789534';
	paidCurrentSubscription := true
end;

Instances

A record is treated by the program as a single entity, and for example a whole record can be copied (provided the copy is of the same type) thus:

var
	a, b: TMember;

(* main program *)
begin
	// ... assign values to the fields in record a
	b := a
	// Now b holds a _copy_ of a.
	// Do not get confused with references:
	// a and b still point to _different_ _entities_ of TMember.
end.

Constant record

type
	// record definition
	TSpecialDay = record
		dayName: string;
		month: integer;
		day: integer;
	end;

const
	// TSpecialDay constant
	christmasDay: TSpecialDay = (
		dayName: 'Christmas Day';
		month: 12;
		day: 25;
	);

See also

• Records, tutorial that covers records
• object
• class