using functions can be hazerdous to your health

[pboomwork]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

So in your case the modified function is not being loaded into the Global variable space, and the original function remains in the Global variable space. Function are not run from the data dictionary where they are stored but rather from the variable space. That is why functions are sometimes listed as a Variable type.

Why is the modified function not being loaded into the variable space, that is the question. When you restart the application your modified function is run so it is being loaded into the variable space, therefore is not an syntax error in the function. Syntax errors will prevent functions from being loaded into the variable space.

Maybe you have reached some limit to the variable space. If you edit the function after just starting the application does the edit work without reboot. Do you have a really large number of global variables or some really large global variables. Use View-Global variables. Or do you have a large number of functions or some very large functions. The functions also take up variable space.

Your can manually check the syntax of a function by using the following statement in the interactive window.

a5_check_syntax(udf_load(UDFname),.T.,.T.)

You can attempt to manually load a function into the variable space with the following command

udf_define(udf_load(UDFname),global_variables())

[CALocklin]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

I had mine set up the same way. It probably has more to do with the way I used to write functions...most of my updates are on old converted action scripts or just to improve poorly written code.

I find that quite often...

"poorly written code " = anything written more than a few months ago (and sometimes last week)

It still amazes me how many times I come back to look at old code (for whatever reason) and wonder why in the world I did it that way.

[MoGrace]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

Paul does make a point about the var namespace. I keep my more generic functions in a sparate alb file that I then may attach to different apps. Sometimes tho I make an app specific modification and copy it to the adb library file. As I understand it, that new function - with the same name, should supercede the original.

Recently I have been working on a way to keep this stuff better organized - with the ability to group tables, sets, reports, forms, browses and operations and add notes where needed. Sort of like the code library, but for all the other stuff in the control panel.

[martinwcole]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

Paul, I suspect you may have an explanation; it is at least a very reasonable explanation.
My main app is very large, and where I most often work - over 1,000 tables, 700 forms, etc. - and where I noticed the issue.

I suspect there may be an Alpha max temporary namespace, that I am running into. A few years ago I ran into an issue in 10.5 where I could not create a new shadow for my app. Cian found the issue, namely that it was an Alpha max-tables that could be addressed in a new shadow. He bumped it from what it was to 10,000.

I am confident that it is not a Windows issue, since I have 12 Gigs of ram.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

Martin,

Doesn't the "Refresh" button on the Alpha control panel overcome the issue you're reporting? I always use the "Refresh" button after saving edits to a user defined function, or after creating and saving a new one.

[martinwcole]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

Hey Tom,
No, it doesn't.
I suspect it is app related - size of control panel, number of layouts, etc.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: using functions can be hazerdous to your health

Hey Tom,
No, it doesn't.
I suspect it is app related - size of control panel, number of layouts, etc.

Probably one of the reasons Ira wrote his utility years ago to restart Alpha and open the same objects it was closed in.

Nothing beats a restart.