///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function : f_If()
// Author   : PowerObject! [Shekar C. Reddy]
// Date     : 4/11/2002
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Desc     : If() PowerScript expression-function!!!
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

All,

We've wanted the If() expression-function in PowerScript for a long time.
Although Sybase included it as a dw-object/InfoMaker function, they do not
seem to have understood its incredible power as a PowerScript function to
use it in "in-line" assignments/expressions... We can find this function
in even the legacy tools such as FoxBASE+, CA-Clipper... Well! Why wait
for Sybase? Write your own If() function now and enjoy its power. Name it
as f_If() instead of If() so it does not over-ride the one from Sybase -
if they ever provide one in future:

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
GLOBAL FUNCTION any f_If( readOnly boolean ab_Expression, &
   readOnly any aa_TrueValue, readOnly any aa_FalseValue )
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Retuns NULL if ab_Expression is NULL
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Do NOT "recurse" f_If() here!! :~)
any   la_Null ;
//
IF IsNull( ab_Expression ) THEN      // Error
   SetNull( la_Null ) ;
   RETURN la_Null ;
ELSEIF ab_Expression THEN
   RETURN aa_TrueValue ;
END IF ;
//
RETURN aa_FalseValue ;



/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// USAGE of f_If()
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
date      ld_Today ;
string    ls_Name  ;
boolean   lb_Flag  ;
//
ld_Today = f_If( SQLCA.of_IsConnected(), &
                 gnv_Oracle.of_GetServerDate(), Today()) ;
//
ls_Name = Trim( f_If( IsNull( FirstName ), "", FirstName ) + " " + &
                f_If( IsNull( LastName  ), "", LastName  ))
//
// Switch the value of lb_Flag
lb_Flag = f_If( lb_Flag, NOT lb_Flag, lb_Flag ) ;
//
// More examples showing the power of in-line assignments
dw.DataObject = f_If( ib_ReportMode = "D", "d_Detailed", "d_Summary" ) ;
//
dw.of_SetTransObject( f_If( SQLCA.of_GetDBMS() = "ORACLE", &
                      itr_Oracle, itr_Sybase )) ;

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Now, any takers for writing the dw Case() function?!

Regards,

--
PowerObject!
-----------------------------------------
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