$SELECT
Synopsis
$SELECT(expression:value,...) $S(expression:value,...)
Parameters
| expression | The select test for the associated value parameter. |
| value | The value to be returned if the associated expression evaluates to true. |
Description
The $SELECT function returns the value associated with the first expression that evaluates to true (1). Each $SELECT argument is a pair of expressions separated by a colon. The left half is a truth-valued expression. The right half can be any expression.
The specified list of expression:value pairs can be of any length. $SELECT evaluates the parameters from left to right. When $SELECT discovers a truth-valued expression with the value of true (1), it returns the matching expression to the right of the colon. $SELECT stops evaluation after it discovers the left-most true truth-valued expression. It never evaluates later pairs on the parameter list.
Parameters
expression
The select test for the associated value parameter. It can be any valid Caché relational or logical expression. If no expression evaluates to true, the system generates a <SELECT> error. To prevent an error from disrupting an executing routine, the final expression can be the value 1, which always evaluates to true.
When expression is a string or numeric, any non-zero numeric value evaluates to true. A zero numeric value or a non-numeric string evaluates to false.
value
The value to be returned if the associated expression evaluates to true. It can be a numeric value, a string literal, a variable name, or any valid ObjectScript expression. If you specify an expression for value, it is evaluated only after the associated expression evaluates to true. If value contains a subscripted global reference, it changes the naked indicator when it is evaluated. For this reason, be careful when using naked global references either within or immediately after a $SELECT function. For more details on the naked indicator, see Naked Global Reference in Using Caché Globals.
Examples
To ensure that a <SELECT> error never results, you should always include the value 1 as the last expression with an appropriate default value. This is shown in the following example:
Start
READ !,"Which level?: ",a
QUIT:a=""
SET x=$SELECT(a=1:"Level1",a=2:"Level2",a=3:"Level3",1:"Start")
DO @x
Level1()
WRITE !,"This is Level 1"
Level2()
WRITE !,"This is Level 2"
Level3()
WRITE !,"This is Level 3"If the user enters a value other then 1, 2, 3, or the null string, control is passed back to the top of the routine.
You can use $SELECT to replace multiple IF clauses. The following example uses IF, ELSEIF, and ELSE clauses to determine whether a number is odd or even:
OddEven()
READ !,"Enter an Integer: ",x
QUIT:x=""
WRITE !,"The input value is "
IF 0=$ISVALIDNUM(x) { WRITE "not a number" }
ELSEIF x=0 { WRITE "zero" }
ELSEIF ""=$NUMBER(x,"I") { WRITE "not an integer" }
ELSEIF x#2=1 { WRITE "odd" }
ELSE { WRITE "even" }
DO OddEvenThe following example also accepts a number and determines if the number is odd or even. It uses $SELECT to replace the IF command in the previous example:
OddEven()
READ !,"Enter an Integer: ",x
QUIT:x=""
WRITE !,"The input value is "
WRITE $SELECT(0=$ISVALIDNUM(x):"not a number",x=0:"zero",
""=$NUMBER(x,"I"):"not an integer",x#2=1:"odd",1:"even")
DO OddEvenSee Also
-
$CASE function
