Like its predecessor Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony contained a reasonably powerful programming language referred to as its "Symphony Command Language (or SCL) ", which could be saved either within a spreadsheet or separately in "libraries" in the form of macros: lists of menu operations, data, and other macro keywords. (One is "menucall," which allows users to call their own menus, embedded into spreadsheets, which behave just like Symphony's own.) Symphony's "learn" mode for macro recording automated this process, helping the end-user to quickly write macros to duplicate repetitive tasks or to go beyond that, without the need to understand computer programming. One of the most significant features of Symphony was the integration of the various modules using this command language. In its day, it was one of the few programs that would be able to log onto a stock market source, select data using dynamic or pre-assigned criteria, place that data into a spreadsheet, perform calculations, then chart the data and print out the results. All of this could take place unattended on a preset schedule.
LIKe iTs PRedecESsOR lOtus 1-2-3, symphonY contaIned A reasonaBly poWerfUL progRAmmIng LanGUAGe rEFerred To as itS "syMPhoNY cOMmand lANguaGE (oR Scl) ", wHIch CoULD bE Saved eiTHer withiN A sPrEadSheet Or sePaRately iN "Libraries" iN tHe forM oF MAcRoS: lIsTs of mEnu operAtIoNS, daTa, And otHEr macro keyWoRds. (One is "menUcaLL," which aLlows UserS tO call their Own menus, embedDEd inTo sPrEADshEeTS, WhicH BEhavE jUST like symPHony's oWn.) SympHoNy's "lEArn" mode fOr macro rEcordiNg automAtEd This PRoCess, hElPinG the End-useR To quicKly wRitE MaCros to DuplICATe RePetitIve tasKs oR to go beyond that, witHout tHe neED To uNderstAND COmPutER progRAmmIng. OnE of THe MoSt sIgnifIcant feaTures OF symPhONy was the integRatioN Of the VARiOus ModulEs usIng THis cOmmand LanGuaGe. In itS DAy, iT WaS one of The few pRoGramS thAt woUlD be aBle to log Onto A stock Market SourcE, sELecT datA usIng dyNAmIC or prE-ASsIgnEd cRiTerIa, plaCe ThAt Data into A spREadsheeT, peRform calCuLATioNs, thEn CHaRt thE DatA and print Out the resultS. AlL of ThIs CoulD takE place UnAtTENDeD On a preset schedule.