convert_expression() Problem

[hrumpole]

I am creating an aplication to proicess quotations.

"quote_no" is a numeric field in a table.

I have three scripts which include the code:

DIM TEMPNEWNO as N

... Other code

TEMPNEWNO = tbl.quote_no

... Other Code

query.filter = "quote_no = Var->TEMPNEWNO"
query.order = "recno()"
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"VE")
:Report.Preview("Quote",query.filter,query.order)

The scripts run perfectly.

In a fifth script, I dim'd TEMPNEWNO and it is assigned a valid numeric value.

I cut and pasted the four lines of filter/preview code and when run I get the error message "Invalid report filter expression: 'quote_no = VAR->TEMPNEWNO'"

In debug I can see that TEMPNEWNO is a valid integer but when the convert_expression code is reached nothing happens i.e. it does not substitute the value.

As I cut and pasted the four lines of code there are no typos so why does it work in teh other four scripts and not this one?

[Tom Henkel]

Re: convert_expression() Problem

I just checked the help file, and I didn't see a "VE" option. " only saw "V"

Argument
Description

Expression
An expression.

Convert_Expression_Flags
"V" = Expand vars. Substitute values for variable names.

"C" = Expand calcs. Substitute values for calculated value names

"L" = Force long names. Expand object names to their full addresses.

"S" = Force short names. Remove object name address information.

Tablename
Optional. Default = the current table. The table context of the variables or objects. The name of a table.

Variable_Frame
An expression that defines the scope of the variables. See Variable Data Types.

From what you said, it looks like the "convert_expression" isn't hitting. Is it commented out?

Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: convert_expression() Problem

Can't say. Don't have anything past V9 so I'm not sure but a bit of testing indicates that convert_expression() doesn't accept local variables even if the namespace is specified.

DIM TEMPNEWNO as N
... Other code
TEMPNEWNO = tbl.quote_no
... Other Code
query.filter = "quote_no = Var->TEMPNEWNO"
query.order = "recno()"
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V","",local_variables()) [COLOR="blue"]' doesn't work[/COLOR]:Report.Preview("Quote",query.filter,query.order)

DIM [COLOR="Red"]shared[/COLOR] TEMPNEWNO as N
... Other code
TEMPNEWNO = tbl.quote_no
... Other Code
query.filter = "quote_no = Var->TEMPNEWNO"
query.order = "recno()"
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V") [COLOR="blue"]'works[/COLOR]
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V","",session_variables()) [COLOR="Blue"]' works[/COLOR]
:Report.Preview("Quote",query.filter,query.order)

[hrumpole]

Re: convert_expression() Problem

Stan solved it.

Changing the variable to a shared variable does the trick.

Many thanks.

P.S. I couldnt find "VE" in thw help file either but this is how Alpha 5 configures the function when you use the genie. V or VE both seem to work equally well when the variable is dim'd as shared.

[Tom Henkel]

Re: convert_expression() Problem

From what I read in the Help file, Dimming it as "shared" alleviates the need for the convert_expression altogether.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: convert_expression() Problem

For numerics, not needed. For other variable types and mixtures of types it eliminates the need to convert the variables values to character equivalents and substitute them into a character filter string.

DIM shared TEMPNEWNO as N
dim shared tmpdate as d
'... Other code
TEMPNEWNO = 7
tmpdate = {07/15/2010}
'... Other Code
query.filter = "quote_no = Var->TEMPNEWNO .and. thdate = var->tmpdate"
[COLOR="Red"]'instead of[/COLOR]
query.filter = "quote_no = "+Var->TEMPNEWNO+" .and. thdate = "+dtoc(var->tmpdate)
query.order = "recno()"
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V")