TYPE

TYPE

Let Subcommand

Return the type of a previously defined variable, parameter, string or matrix.

Dataplot maintains an internal name table for variables, parameters, strings, and matrices. It may occassionally be useful to determine the type of a name in this table.

This command will return a string with one of the following values:

NONE	The name was not found
VARIABLE	The name was found as a variable
PARAMETER	The name was found as a parameter
STRING	The name was found as a string or function
MATRIX	The name was found as a matrix

Dataplot names are currently limited to a maximum of eight characters and should consist of alphabetic or numeric characters. Names should not include spaces or special characters.

The TYPE command is most commonly used in general purpose macros to test if input variables, parameters, and strings are of the right type.

LET <sout> = TYPE <string>
where <string> is literal text that specifies the name to search for;
and <sout> is a string that specifies the type for the given name.

LET SY = TYPE Y

Character variables are stored in the "dpchzf.dat" file and are not stored in the internal Dataplot name table. The TYPE command does not search for names in "dpchzf.dat".

Strings in Dataplot maintain their case. Be aware that the returned type is given in upper case. So when using the type string with the IF command, be sure to specify the value as upper case. That is, use
if sy = VARIABLE

rather than

if sy = variable

None

None

IF EXIST	= Determine whether a parameter or a string is currently defined.
UPPER CASE	= Convert a string to upper case.
LOWER CASE	= Convert a string to lower case.
LET FUNCTION	= Defines a function.
LET STRING	= Defines a string.
READ STRING	= Reads a string from a file.
SUBTRING	= Extract a substring from an existing string.
STRING INDEX	= Extract the start/stop positions of a substring within a string.
STRING CONCATENATE	= Concatenate one or more previously defined strings.
STRING EDIT	= Edit a string.
STRING REPLACE	= Insert the contents of one string into another string at a specified position.
STRING MERGE	= Insert a string into another string without overwrite.
STRING LENGTH	= Return the length of a string.
CHARACTER	= Convert numeric values to strings based on the ASCII collating sequence.
ICHAR	= Convert a string to numeric values based on the ASCII collating sequence.
GROUP LABEL	= Define the text for group labels.

Data Management

2014/12

SKIP 25
READ BERGER1.DAT Y X BAT
LET STRING STITLE BERGER Data
READ MATRIX M
1 2 3
4 5 6
END OF DATA
LET A = 2
.
LET SY = TYPE Y
LET SX = TYPE X
LET SZ = TYPE Z
LET SA = TYPE A
LET SM = TYPE M
LET SS = TYPE STITLE
PRINT SY SX SZ SA SM SS

The following output is generated

 FUNCTIONS--

     SY      --VARIABLE
     SX      --VARIABLE
     SZ      --NONE
     SA      --PARAMETER
     SM      --MATRIX
     SS      --NONE

.
IF SY = VARIABLE
   IF SX = VARIABLE
      FIT Y X
   END OF IF
END OF IF
.
IF SA = PARAMETER
   PRINT A
END OF IF