Class Functions and Class Objects
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    Declaring a class with the CREATE CLASS command actually causes a
    function to be created (this is done with the Clipper preprocessor).
    This function has the same name as the class and is called a class
    function.  The class function actually creates the class (the first
    time it is called), and returns a class object which can be used to
    refer to that class.

    Class objects are real objects that have type 'O'.  If the class with
    which they are associated has any class variables, then they can be
    found in the class object.  When viewing instances of such a class in
    the debugger, in the list of instance variables an entry labeled
    class in lower case will appear.  This is the class object, and can
    be viewed by selecting it and pressing enter.

    Some uses of class objects are described in the following entries:

    .   Creating Instances
    .   Class Messages
    .   Comparing Classes