title: what is the efficiency of an assign statement in progress-4gl
body: <p>why is an assign statement more efficient than not using assign?</p>
  
  <p>co-workers say that:</p>
  
  <pre><code>assign
    a=3
    v=7
    w=8.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>is more efficient than:</p>
  
  <pre><code>a=3.
  v=7.
  w=8.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>why?</p>