# Directives

DROP CLASS | Delete Class Definition

## Format

DROP CLASS class$
Where:

class$ | Name of the class to be deleted. String expression.

## Description

The DROP CLASS directive is used in Object Oriented Programming to delete a class definition and all related information. Once a class definition is established, then it may not be changed but it can be deleted and recreated using DROP CLASS. Only class definitions that have no references to them may be deleted. This means that no class can be deleted when:

- Any object exists which refers to this class.
- Any other class exists which refers to this class by its LIKE clause.

Any attempt to delete a class that has a reference to it will return an Error #50: Class in use or already defined. All class definitions will be deleted when a START directive is issued. Either DROP CLASS or DELETE CLASS can be used to delete a class definition.

## See Also

DEF CLASS Define Object Class
DROP OBJECT Delete Object
FUNCTION Declare Object Method
LIKE Inherit Properties
LOAD CLASS Pre-Load Class Definition
LOCAL Designation of Local Data
PROGRAM Create/Assign Program File
PROPERTY Declare Object Properties
RENAME CLASS Change Name of Class
STATIC Add Local Properties at Runtime
NEW( ) Create New Object
REF( ) Control Reference Count