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Lead with a complete plugin quick start and add task-oriented usage, troubleshooting, customization, and contribution guides. Preserve the broader plugin framing, correct conflicting contract guidance, support Agents folder reviews, and align repository validation. Convert existing sample references to clickable links without changing knowledge rules. Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
26 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
26 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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bc-version: [25..]
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domain: style
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keywords: [this, codeunit, self-reference, aa0248, scope]
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technologies: [al]
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countries: [w1]
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application-area: [all]
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---
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# Use the `this` keyword for self-reference inside codeunits (CodeCop AA0248)
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## Description
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CodeCop AA0248 recommends prefixing self-references inside a codeunit with `this`. `this.ValidateCustomer(Customer)` is unambiguous: the call resolves to a procedure on the current codeunit, not to a local variable or a procedure on a passed-in object. Without the prefix, a reader of a 200-line procedure has to scan the whole codeunit to confirm whether `ValidateCustomer` is local. `this` also makes it possible to pass the current codeunit as an argument — `SomeOtherCodeunit.DoWork(this)` — which is the only way to expose the running codeunit instance to a collaborator. The rule applies only to codeunits, not to pages, reports, queries, or tables — those object types do not have a `this` reference in AL.
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## Best Practice
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Inside a codeunit, prefix calls to procedures and accesses to global variables on the same codeunit with `this.`, and pass `this` when an external codeunit needs a reference to the running instance.
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See sample: [`this-keyword-in-codeunits.good.al`](this-keyword-in-codeunits.good.al).
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## Anti Pattern
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Calling a codeunit-local procedure as a bare identifier (`ValidateCustomer(Customer)`) when other readings are possible. The ambiguity costs reading time on every encounter and grows with codeunit size.
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See sample: [`this-keyword-in-codeunits.bad.al`](this-keyword-in-codeunits.bad.al).
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