Macro Formulas

Using Macro formulas can make your program easier to understand and to maintain. Consider using Macros for any of the following:

• Long or difficult formulas – the macro name concentrates attention on the purpose of the formula
  
• Frequently used formulas – save typing a long name every time
  
• Numeric constants whose value gives no hint of their meaning
  
• Constants whose value should not be hard coded and buried in your program because the value may need to be changed from time to time – the value of CENTURY, for example
  
• Pieces of text which are not part of a map but are instead displayed or printed using a local variable with a formula – this is particularly helpful if you are likely to want to translate your application into another language