Manual

From NEOSYS Dev Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

ICONV/OCONV PATTERNS

Decimal (MD/MC)

input conversion (string) output
1234 MD2 12.34
1234 MD20 1234.00
1234 MD20, 1,234.00
1234.5678 MD2 12.35
1234.5678 MD20 1234.57
1234.5678 MD20, 1,234.57
1234 MC2 12,34
1234 MC20 1234,00
1234 MC20, 1.234,00
1234 MD20- 1234.00

Date (D)

input conversion (string) output
12345 D 18 OCT 2001
12345 D/ 10/18/2001
12345 D- 10-18-2001
12345 D2 18 OCT 01
12345 D/E 18/10/2001
12345 DS 2001 OCT 18
12345 DS/ 2001/10/18
12345 DM 10
12345 DMA OCTOBER
12345 DY 2001
12345 DY2 01
12345 DD 18
12345 DW 4
12345 DWA THURSDAY
12345 DQ 4
12345 DJ 291
12345 DL 31

Time (MT)

input conversion (string) output
234800 MT 17:13
234800 MTH 05:13PM
234800 MTS 17:13:20
234800 MTHS 05:13:20PM
0 MT 00:00
0 MTH 12:00AM
0 MTS 00:00:00
0 MTHS 12:00:00AM

Hex (HEX/MX)

input conversion (string) output
ab HEX (same as HEX8 or HEX4 depending on platform)
ab HEX8 0000006100000062
ab HEX4 00610062
ab HEX2 6162
15 MX F
254 MX FE
255 MX FF
256 MX 100
27354234 MX 1A1647A

Text (L/R/T)

input conversion (string)output
abcd L#3 abc
ab L#3 ab␣
abcd R#3 bcd
ab R#3 ␣ab
ab T#3 ab␣
abcd T#3 abc™d␣␣
42 L(0)#5 42000
42 R(0)#5 00042
42 T(0)#5 42000

Dictionaries

Exodus dictionaries enable classic multivalue database data definition. Dictionaries are just normal Exodus multivalue files that contain one record for each data column definition. You can use Exodus's edir program to manually edit dictionaries.

Dictionary file names must start with the word "dict_". For example, if you have a "books" file, then you will probably have a "dict_books" file.

You can list the contents of a dictionary by typing "list dict_filename".

Exodus Dictionary Format

0 DICTID Field/Column Code
1 DICTTYPE "F" or "S" : "F" means use Field No (i.e. raw data) and "S" means use Source Code (i.e. a function).
2 FIELDNO Field number (0=key, 1=field 1 etc for "Fields"
3 TITLE Title on reports
4 SM S or M or Mnn : "Single Value" or "Multivalue" or "Multivalue Group nn"
5 KEYPARTNO Multipart keys are separated by * characters.
6
7 CONVERSION Conversion (MD/MT/D etc.)
8 SOURCE Source Code of a subroutine to calculate the field. Multivalues are lines and the result must be placed in a variable "ANS".
9 JUST "L" or "R" or "T" requesting left, right or text justification
10 WIDTH Column Width on fixed width reports

Sort/Select Command

Exodus provides the classic multivalue sort/select command within any Exodus program followed by readnext().

Classic multivalue select/readnext functions only provide the keys of the selected records. Exodus provides the classic select/readnext and also selectrecords/readnextrecord which provides complete records instead of just keys.

The format of the select/sselect command is as follows:

 SELECT|SSELECT

 {max_number_of_records}

 {using filename}

 filename

 {datakeyvalue} ...

 {BY|BY-DSND fieldname} ...
 
 {

  WITH

  {NO|ALL|ANY}

  dict_field_id

  {
   CONTAINING|STARTING|ENDING|LIKE|EQ|NE|NOT|GT|LT|GE|LE=|<>|>|<|>=|<= value(s)
   |
   BETWEEN value AND value
  }

  {AND|OR}

 } ...

Functions and Commands

String Commands

Most string functions like trim() that return a new modified string have a corresponding modify in place command like function like trimmer() that is is usually much faster. So we have convert and converter, replace and replacer, insert and inserter and so on.

Therefore by preference use

trimmer(v1);
// or
v1.trimmer()

instead of

v1 = trim(v1);
// or
v1 = v1.trim();

Function Types

TYPE FUNCTION TYPE
var= traditional functions that return values and can be used in expressions and be on the right hand side of assignments
if traditional conditional statements that started with "if" or ended with "then/else" (or could have)
cmd traditional commands with no outputs
exp traditional commands that now have outputs and can be used in expressions

Parameters/Argument Types

in Parameters that provide data to the function. Can be variables or raw data like 1 or "X"
unspecified Same as "in". Omission of the most common type de-clutters the documentation. NB When defining your own subroutines and functions "in" cannot be omitted from the source code.
io Parameters that may provide and/or return data. Must be variables. Cannot be raw data like 1 or "X"
out Parameters that return data. Must be variables. Cannot be raw data like 1 or "X"

Optional Parameters

Key Default
="" ""
=" " " "
="." "."
=1 1
=0 0
=true true
=false false

Complete List of Functions

Math/Boolean
Usage Function Comment
var= var.abs() Absolute value
var(-12.34).abs(); // 12.34
var= var.pwr(exponent) Power
var(2).pwr(8); // 256
var= var.rnd() Random number generator
var(100).rnd(); // 0 to 99 pseudo random
cmd var.initrnd() Initialise Random seed
var(123).initrnd(); // Set pseudo random seed to 123
var= var.exp() Power of e
var(1).exp(); // 2.718281828459045
var= var.sqrt() Square root
var(100).sqrt(); // 10
var= var.sin() Sine of degrees
var(30).sin(); // 0.5
var= var.cos() Cosine of degrees
var(60).cos(); // 0.5
var= var.tan() Tangent of degrees
var(45).tan(); // 1
var= var.atan() Arctangent of degrees
var(1).atan(); // 45
var= var.loge() Natural logarithm
var(2.718281828459045).loge(); // 1
var= var.integer() Truncate decimal numbers towards zero.
var(2.9).integer(); // 2
var(-2.9).integer(); // -2
var= var.floor() Truncate decimal numbers towards negative
var(2.9).floor(); // 2
var(-2.9).floor(); // -3
var= var.round(ndecimals = 0) Round decimal numbers to a desired number of decimal places

.5 rounds away from zero.

var(23.455).round(2); // "23.46"
var(-23.455).round(2); // "-23.46"
var= var.mod(divisor) Remainder function

Result is between [0 , limit) if limit is positive
Result is between (limit, 0] if limit is negative

var(7).mod(5); // 2
mod(7, 5); // ditto
Locale
Usage Function Comment
expr var.getxlocale() Gets the current thread's default locale codepage code
var().getxlocale(); // e.g. "en_US.utf8"
getxlocale(); // ditto
if var.setxlocale() Sets the current thread's default locale codepage code
"de_DE.utf8"_var.setxlocale(); // true if successful
setxlocale("de_DE.utf8"); // ditto
String Creation
Usage Function Comment
var= var.chr(num) Create a string of a single char (byte) given an integer 0-255.

0-127 -> ASCII, 128-255 -> invalid UTF-8 so cannot be written to database or used various exodus string operations

var().chr(0x61); // "a"
chr(0x61); // ditto
var= var.textchr(num) Create a string of a single unicode code point in utf8 encoding.

To get utf codepoints > 2^63 you must provide negative ints
Not providing implicit constructor from var to unsigned int due to getting ambigious conversions
since int and unsigned int are parallel priority in c++ implicit conversions

var().textchr(171416); // "𩶘" or "\xF0A9B698"
textchr(171416); // ditto
var= var.str(num) Create a string by repeating a given character or string
"ab"_var.str(3); // "ababab"
str("ab"_var, 3); // ditto
var= var.space() Create string of space characters.
var(3).space(); // "␣␣␣"
space(3); // ditto
var= var.numberinwords(languagename_or_locale_id = "") Create a string describing a given number in words
var(123.45).numberinwords("de_DE").outputl();
//"ein­hundert­drei­und­zwanzig Komma vier fünf"
String Scanning
Usage Function Comment
var= var.seq() Returns the character number of the first char.
"abc"_var.seq(); // 0x61 97
seq("abc"_var); // 0x61 97
var= var.textseq() Returns the Unicode character number of the first unicode code point.
"Γ"_var.textseq(); // 915 U+0393: Greek Capital Letter Gamma (Unicode Character)
textseq("Γ"); // ditto
var= var.len() Returns the length of a string in number of chars
"abc"_var.len(); // 3
len("abc"_var); // ditto
var= var.textwidth() Returns the number of output columns.

Allows multi column unicode and reduces combining characters etc. like e followed by grave accent
Possibly does not properly calculate combining sequences of graphemes e.g. face followed by colour

"🤡x🤡"_var.textwidth(); // 5
textwidth("🤡x🤡"_var); // ditto
var= var.textlen() Returns the number of Unicode code points
"Γιάννης"_var.textlen(); // 7
textlen("Γιάννης"_var); // ditto
var= var.fcount(sepstr) Returns the number of fields separated by sepstr present.

It is the same as var.count(sepstr) + 1 except that and empty string returns 0

"a1**c3"_var.fcount("*"); // 3
fcount("a1**c3"_var, "*"); // ditto
var= var.count(sepstr) Return the number of sepstr found
"a1*b2*c3"_var.count("*"); // 3
count("a1*b2*c3"_var, "*"); // ditto
if var.starts(prefix) Returns true if starts with prefix
"abc"_var.starts("ab"); // true
if var.ends(suffix) Returns true if ends with suffix
"abc"_var.ends("bc"); // true
if var.contains(substr) Return true if starts, ends or contains substr
"abcd"_var.contains("bc"); // true
var= var.index(substr, startchar1 = 1) Returns char no if found or 0 if not. startchar1 is byte no to start at.
"abcd"_var.index("bc"); // 2
var= var.indexn(substr, occurrence) ditto. Occurrence 1 = find first occurrence
"abcabc"_var.index("bc", 2); // 5
var= var.indexr(substr, startchar1 = -1) ditto. Reverse search.

startchar1 defaults to -1 meaning start searching from the last byte

"abcabc"_var.indexr("bc"); // 5
var= var.match(regex, regex_options = "") Returns all results of regex matching

Multiple matches are in fields
Groups are in values

"abc1abc2"_var.match("bc(\\d)"_rex); // "bc1]1^bc2]2"
var= var.match(regex) Ditto
var= var.search(regex, io startchar1, regex_options = "") Search for first match of a regular expression starting at startchar1

Updates startchar1 ready to search for the next match

var startchar1 = 1;
"abc1abc2"_var.search("bc(\\d)", startchar1); // returns "bc1]1"
// startchar1 becomes 5 ready for the next search
var= var.search(regex) Ditto starting from first char
var= var.search(regex, io startchar1) Ditto given a rex
var= var.search(regex) Ditto starting from first char.
String Conversion - Chainable. Non-Mutating
Usage Function Comment
var= var.ucase() To upper case
"Γιάννης"_var.ucase(); // "ΓΙΆΝΝΗΣ"
var= var.lcase() Lower case
"ΓΙΆΝΝΗΣ"_var.lcase(); // "γιάννης"
var= var.tcase() Title case (first letters)
"γιάννης"_var.tcase(); // "Γιάννης"
var= var.fcase() Fold case (lower case and remove accents for indexing)
var= var.normalize() Normalise Unicode to NFC to eliminate different code combinations of the same character
var= var.invert() Simple reversible disguising of text
"abc"_var.invert(); // "\x{C29EC29DC29C}"
var= var.lower() Convert all FM to VM, VM to SM etc.
"a1^b2^c3"_var.lower(); // "a1]b2]c3"
var= var.raise() Convert all VM to FM, SM to VM etc.
"a1]b2]c3"_var.raise(); // "a1^b2^c3"
var= var.crop() Remove any redundant FM, VM etc. characters (Trailing FM; VM before FM etc.)
"a1^b2]]^c3^^"_var.crop(); // "a1^b2^c3"
var= var.quote() Wrap in double quotes
"abc"_var.quote(); // ""abc""
var= var.squote() Wrap in single quotes
"abc"_var.squote(); // "'abc'"
var= var.unquote() Remove one pair of double or single quotes
"'abc'"_var.unquote(); // "abc"
var= var.trim(trimchars = " ") Remove leading, trailing and excessive inner bytes
"␣␣a1␣␣b2␣c3␣␣"_var.trim(); // "a1␣b2␣c3"
var= var.trimfirst(trimchars = " ") Ditto leading
"␣␣a1␣␣b2␣c3␣␣"_var.trimfirst(); // "a1␣␣b2␣c3␣␣"
var= var.trimlast(trimchars = " ") Ditto trailing
"␣␣a1␣␣b2␣c3␣␣"_var.trimlast(); // "␣␣a1␣␣b2␣c3"
var= var.trimboth(trimchars = " ") Ditto leading, trailing but not inner
"␣␣a1␣␣b2␣c3␣␣"_var.trimboth(); // "a1␣␣b2␣c3"
var= var.first() Extract first char or "" if empty
"abc"_var.first(); // "a"
var= var.last() Extract last char or "" if empty
"abc"_var.last(); // "c"
var= var.first(std::size_t length) Extract up to length leading chars
"abc"_var.first(2); // "ab"
var= var.last(std::size_t length) Extract up to length trailing chars
"abc"_var.last(2); // "bc"
var= var.cut(length) Remove length leading chars
"abcd"_var.cut(2); // "cd"
var= var.paste(pos1, length, insertstr) Insert text at char position overwriting length chars
"abcd"_var.paste(2, 2, "XYZ"); // "aXYZd"
var= var.paste(pos1, insertstr) Insert text at char position without overwriting any following characters
"abcd"_var.paste(2, "XYZ"); // "aXYbcd"
var= var.prefix(insertstr) Insert text at the beginning
"abc"_var.prefix("XY"); // "XYabc"
var= var.pop() Remove one trailing char
"abc"_var.pop(); // "ab"
var= var.fieldstore(separator, fieldno, nfields, replacement) fieldstore() replaces nfields of subfield(s) in a string.
"aa*bb*cc*dd"_var.fieldstore("*", 2, 3, "X*Y"); // "aa*X*Y*"

If nfields is 0 then insert fields before fieldno

"a1*b2*c3*d4"_var.fieldstore("*", 2, 0, "X*Y"); // "a1*X*Y*b2*c3*d4"

If nfields is negative then delete nfields before inserting.

"a1*b2*c3*d4"_var.fieldstore("*", 2, -3, "X*Y"); // "a1*X*Y"
var= var.substr(startindex1, length) substr version 1. Extract length chars starting at startindex1
"abcd"_var.substr(2, 2); // "bc"

If length is negative then work backwards and return chars reversed

"abcd"_var.substr(3, -2); // "cb"
var= var.substr(startindex1) substr version 2. Extract all chars from startindex1 up to the end
"abcd"_var.substr(2); // "bcd"
var= var.b(pos1, length) Same as substr version 1.
var= var.b(pos1) Same as substr version 2.
var= var.convert(fromchars, tochars) Convert chars to other chars one for one or delete where tochars is shorter.
"abcde"_var.convert("aZd", "XY"); // "Xbce" (a is replaced and d is removed)
var= var.textconvert(fromchars, tochars) Ditto for Unicode code points.
"🤡😀✌"_var.textconvert("🤡😀", "👋"); // "👋✌ "
var= var.replace(fromstr, tostr) Replace all occurrences of a substr with another. Case sensitive
"Abc Abc"_var.replace("bc", "X"); // "AX AX"
var= var.replace(regex, tostr) Replace substring(s) using a regular expression.

Use $0, $1, $2 in tostr to refer to groups defined in the regex.

"A a B b"_var.replace("[A-Z]"_rex, "'$0'"); // "'A' a 'B' b"
var= var.unique() Remove duplicate fields in an FM or VM etc. separated list
"a1^b2^a1^c2"_var.unique(); // "a1^b2^c2"
var= var.sort(sepchar = FM) Reorder fields in an FM or VM etc. separated list in ascending order
"20^10^2^1^1.1"_var.sort(); // "1^1.1^2^10^20"
"b1^a1^c20^c10^c2^c1^b2"_var.sort(); // "a1^b1^b2^c1^c10^c2^c20"
var= var.reverse(sepchar = FM) Reorder fields in an FM or VM etc. separated list in descending order
"20^10^2^1^1.1"_var.reverse(); // "1.1^1^2^10^20"
var= var.shuffle(sepchar = FM) Randomise the order of fields in an FM, VM separated list
"20^10^2^1^1.1"_var.shuffle(); // "2^1^20^1.1^10" (random order depending on initrand())
var= var.parse(char sepchar = ' ') Replace separator characters with FM char except inside double or single quotes ignoring escaped quotes \\" \&squot;
"abc,\"def,\"123\" fgh\",12.34"_var.parse(','); // "abc^"def,"123" fgh"^12.34"
String Mutators Not Chainable. All Similar To Non-Mutators
Usage Function Comment
cmd var.ucaser()
cmd var.lcaser()
cmd var.tcaser()
cmd var.fcaser()
cmd var.normalizer()
cmd var.inverter()
cmd var.quoter()
cmd var.squoter()
cmd var.unquoter()
cmd var.lowerer()
cmd var.raiser()
cmd var.cropper()
cmd var.trimmer(trimchars = " ")
cmd var.trimmerfirst(trimchars = " ")
cmd var.trimmerlast(trimchars = " ")
cmd var.trimmerboth(trimchars = " ")
cmd var.firster()
cmd var.laster()
cmd var.firster(std::size_t length)
cmd var.laster(std::size_t length)
cmd var.cutter(length)
cmd var.paster(pos1, length, insertstr)
cmd var.paster(pos1, insertstr)
cmd var.prefixer(insertstr)
cmd var.popper()
cmd var.fieldstorer(sepchar, fieldno, nfields, replacement)
cmd var.substrer(pos1, length)
cmd var.substrer(startindex1)
cmd var.converter(fromchars, tochars)
cmd var.textconverter(fromchars, tochars)
cmd var.replacer(regex, tostr)
cmd var.replacer(fromstr, tostr)
cmd var.uniquer()
cmd var.sorter(sepchar = FM)
cmd var.reverser(sepchar = FM)
cmd var.shuffler(sepchar = FM)
cmd var.parser(char sepchar = ' ')
Other String Access
Usage Function Comment
var= var.hash(std::uint64_t modulus = 0) MurmurHash3 hashing.
"abc"_var.hash(); // 6715211243465481821
var= var.substr(pos1, delimiterchars, out endindex) substr version 3.

Extract substr starting from pos1 up to any one of some delimiter chars also returning the next pos1 after the delimiter found

var= var.b(pos1, delimiterchars, out endindex) Alias of substr version 3.
var= var.substr2(io startstopindex, io delimiterno) substr version 4.

Returns the substr from a given index offset (0 based) up to the next RM/FM/VM/SM/TM/STM delimiter char. Also returns the next index/offset and the delimiter no. found 1-6 or 0 if not found.

var= var.b2(io startstopindex, io delimiterno) Alias of substr version 4
var= var.field(strx, fieldnx = 1, nfieldsx = 1) Extract one or more consecutive fields given a delimiter char or substr.
"aa*bb*cc"_var.field("*", 2);m // "bb"
var= var.field2(separator, fieldno, nfields = 1) field2 is a version that treats fieldn -1 as the last field, -2 the penultimate field etc. -

TODO Should probably make field() do this (since -1 is basically an erroneous call) and remove field2
Same as var.field() but negative fieldnos work backwards from the last field.

"aa*bb*cc"_var.field("*", -1); // "cc"
I/O Conversion
Usage Function Comment
var= var.oconv(convstr) Converts to output format
var(30123).oconv("D/E"); // "21/06/2050"
var= var.iconv(convstr) Converts to input format
"21 JUN 2050"_var.iconv("D/E"); // 30123
var= var.format(fmt_str, Args&&... args) Classic format function in printf style
format("Text and aligned {:9.2f} number", var(123.456)); // "Text and aligned ␣␣␣123.46 number"
var= var.from_codepage(codepage) Converts from codepage encoded text to UTF-8 encoded text

e.g. Codepage "CP1251" (Ukrainian).
Use Linux command "iconv -l" for complete list of code pages and encodings.

var= var.to_codepage(codepage) Converts to codepage encoded text from UTF-8 encoded text
Basic Dynamic Array Functions
Usage Function Comment
var= var.f(fieldno, valueno = 0, subvalueno = 0) f() is a highly abbreviated alias for the PICK OS field/value/subvalue extract() function.

"f()" can be thought of as "field" although the function can extract values and subvalues as well.
The convenient PICK OS angle bracket syntax for field extraction (e.g. xxx<20>) is not available in C++.
The abbreviated exodus field extraction function (e.g. xxx.f(20)) is provided instead since field access is extremely heavily used in source code.

"f1^f2v1]f2v2]f2v3^f2"_var.f(2, 2); // "f2v2"
var= var.extract(fieldno, valueno = 0, subvalueno = 0) Extract a specific field, value or subvalue from a dynamic array.

The alias "f" is usually used instead

var= var.pickreplace(fieldno, valueno, subvalueno, replacement) Same as var.r() function but returns a new string instead of updating a variable in place.
Rarely used.
var= var.pickreplace(fieldno, valueno, replacement) Ditto for a specific multivalue
var= var.pickreplace(fieldno, replacement) Ditto for a specific field
var= var.insert(fieldno, valueno, subvalueno, insertion) Same as var.inserter() function but returns a new string instead of updating a variable in place.
var= var.insert(fieldno, valueno, insertion) Ditto for a specific multivalue
var= var.insert(fieldno, insertion) Ditto for a specific field
var= var.remove(fieldno, valueno = 0, subvalueno = 0) Same as var.remover() function but returns a new string instead of updating a variable in place.

"remove" was called "delete" in Pick OS.

Dynamic Array Filters
Usage Function Comment
var= var.sum() Sum up multiple values into one higher level
"1]2]3^4]5]6"_var.sum(); // "6^15"
var= var.sumall() Sum up all levels into a single figure
"1]2]3^4]5]6"_var.sumall(); // "21"
var= var.sum(sepchar) Ditto allowing commas etc.
"10,20,33"_var.sum(","); // "60"
var= var.mv(opcode, var2) Binary ops (+, -, *, /) in parallel on multiple values
"10]20]30"_var.mv("+","2]3]4"); // "12]23]34"
Dynamic Array Mutators (Standalone And Cannot Be Chained)
Usage Function Comment
cmd var.r(fieldno, replacement) Replaces a specific field in a dynamic array
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.r(2, 2, "X"); // v1 -> "f1^X^f3"
cmd var.r(fieldno, valueno, replacement) Ditto for specific value in a specific field.
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.r(2, 2, "X"); // v1 -> "f1^v1]X^f3"
cmd var.r(fieldno, valueno, subvalueno, replacement) Ditto for a specific subvalue in a specific value of a specific field
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.r(2, 2, 2, "X"); // v1 -> "f1^v1]v2}X}s3^f3"
cmd var.inserter(fieldno, insertion) Insert a specific field in a dynamic array, moving all other fields up.
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.inserter(2, "X"); // v1 -> "f1^X^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"
cmd var.inserter(fieldno, valueno, insertion) Ditto for a specific value in a specific field, moving all other fields up.
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.inserter(2, 2, "X"); // v1 -> "f1^v1]X]v2}s2}s3^f3"
cmd var.inserter(fieldno, valueno, subvalueno, insertion) Ditto for a specific subvalue in a dynamic array, moving all other subvalues up.
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.inserter(2, 2, 2, "X"); // v1 -> "f1^v1]v2}X}s2}s3^f3"
cmd var.remover(fieldno, valueno = 0, subvalueno = 0) Remove a specific field (or value, or subvalue) from a dynamic array, moving all other fields (or values, or subvalues) down.
var v1 = "f1^v1]v2}s2}s3^f3"_var;
v1.remover(2, 2); // v1 -> "f1^v1^f3"
Dynamic Array Search
Usage Function Comment
if var.locate(target) locate() with only the target substr argument provided searches unordered values separated by VM chars.

Returns true if found and false if not.

if ("UK]US]UA"_var.locate("US")) ... // true
if var.locate(target, out valueno) locate() with only the target substr and valueno arguments provided searches unordered values separated by VM chars.

Returns true if found and with the value number in valueno.
Returns false if not found and with the max value number + 1 in setting. Suitable for additiom of new values

var valueno; if ("UK]US]UA"_var.locate("US", valueno)) ... // returns true and valueno = 2
if var.locate(target, out setting, fieldno, valueno = 0) locate() the target in unordered fields if fieldno is 0, or values if a fieldno is specified, or subvalues if the valueno argument is provided.

Returns true if found and with the field, value or subvalue number in setting.
Returns false if not found and with the max field, value or subvalue number found + 1 in setting. Suitable for replacement of new fields, values or subvalues.

var setting; if ("f1^f2v1]f2v2]s1}s2}s3}s4^f3^f4"_var.locate("s4", setting, 2, 3)) ... // returns true and setting = 4
if var.locateby(ordercode, target, out valueno) locateby() without fieldno or valueno arguments searches ordered values separated by VM chars.

The order code can be AL, DL, AR, DR meaning Ascending Left, Descending Right, Ascending Right, Ascending Left.
Left is used to indicate alphabetic order where 10 < 2.
Right is used to indicate numeric order where 10 > 2.
Data must be in the correct order for searching to work properly.
Returns true if found.
In case the target is not exactly found then the correct value no for inserting the target is returned in setting.

var valueno; if ("aaa]bbb]ccc"_var.locateby("AL", "bb", valueno)) ... // returns false and valueno = 2 where it could be correctly inserted.
if var.locateby(ordercode, target, out setting, fieldno, valueno = 0) locateby() ordered as above but in fields if fieldno is 0, or values in a specific fieldno, or subvalues in a specific valueno.
var setting; if ("f1^f2^aaa]bbb]ccc^f4"_var.locateby("AL", "bb", setting, 3)) ... // returns false and setting = 2 where it could be correctly inserted.
if var.locateusing(usingchar, target) locate() a target substr in the whole unordered string using a given delimiter char returning true if found.
if (
"AB,EF,CD"_var.locateusing(",", "EF")) ... // true
if var.locateusing(usingchar, target, out setting, fieldno = 0, valueno = 0, subvalueno = 0) locate() the target in a specific field, value or subvalue using a specified delimiter and unordered data

Returns true If found and returns in setting the number of the delimited field found.
Returns false if not found and returns in setting the maximum number of delimited fields + 1 if not found.
This is similar to the main locate command but the delimiter char can be specified e.g. a comma or TM etc.

var setting; if ("f1^f2^f3c1,f3c2,f3c3^f4"_var.locateusing(",", "f3c2", setting, 3)) ... // returns true and setting = 2
if var.locatebyusing(ordercode, usingchar, target, out setting, fieldno = 0, valueno = 0, subvalueno = 0) locatebyusing() supports all the above features in a single function.

Returns true if found.

Database Access
Usage Function Comment
if var.connect(conninfo = "") for all db operations, var() can be a db connection or a default connection.
var db="mydb";
if (not db.connect()) abort(db.lasterror());
db.version().outputl();
db.disconnect();
cmd var.disconnect()
cmd var.disconnectall()
if var.attach(filenames) Connect specific filenames on specific databases for the current default session
cmd var.detach(filenames)
if var.begintrans()
if var.rollbacktrans()
if var.committrans()
if var.statustrans()
if var.sqlexec(sqlcmd)
if var.sqlexec(sqlcmd, io response)
var= var.lasterror()
var= var.loglasterror(source = "")
Database Management
Usage Function Comment
if var.dbcreate(dbname) Create a named database on a particular connection
var= var.dblist() Return a list of available databases on a particular connection
if var.dbcopy(from_dbname, to_dbname) Create a named database from an existing database
if var.dbdelete(dbname) Delete (drop) a named database
if var.createfile(filename) Create a named file
if var.renamefile(filename, newfilename) Rename a file
if var.deletefile(filename) Delete (drop) a file
if var.clearfile(filename) Delete all records in a file
var= var.listfiles() Return a list of all files in a database
if var.createindex(fieldname, dictfile = "")
if var.deleteindex(fieldname)
var= var.listindex(filename = "", fieldname = "")
var= var.version()
var= var.reccount(filename = "")
var= var.flushindex(filename = "")
if var.open(dbfilename, connection = "")
cmd var.close()
var= var.lock(key) Returns 1=ok, 0=failed, ""=already locked
if var.unlock(key)
if var.unlockall()
if var.read(filehandle, key) DB file i/o
cmd var.write(filehandle, key)
if var.deleterecord(key)
if var.updaterecord(filehandle, key)
if var.insertrecord(filehandle, key)
if var.readf(filehandle, key, fieldno) Specific db field i/o
cmd var.writef(filehandle, key, fieldno)
if var.readc(filehandle, key) Cached db file i/o lives in exodus process memory not the database
cmd var.writec(filehandle, key)
if var.deletec(key)
cmd var.cleardbcache()
var= var.xlate(filename, fieldno, mode)
Database Sort/Select
Usage Function Comment
if var.select(sortselectclause = "")
cmd var.clearselect()
if var.hasnext()
if var.readnext(out key)
if var.readnext(out key, out valueno)
if var.readnext(out record, out key, out valueno)
if var.savelist(listname)
if var.getlist(listname)
if var.makelist(listname, keys)
if var.deletelist(listname)
if var.formlist(keys, fieldno = 0)
OS Time/Date
Usage Function Comment
var= var.date() Number of whole days since pick epoch 1967-12-31 00:00:00 UTC. Negative for dates before.
var today1 = var().date(); // e.g. was 20821 from 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
// or just
var today2 = date();
var= var.time() Number of whole seconds since last 00:00:00 (UTC).
var now1 = var().time(); // range 0 - 86399 since there are 24*60*60 (86400) seconds in a day.
// or just
var now2 = time();
var= var.ostime() Number of fractional seconds since last 00:00:00 (UTC).

A floating point with approx. nanosecond resolution depending on hardware.

var now1 = var().ostime(); // e.g. 23343.704387955 approx. 06:29:03 UTC
// or just
var now2 = ostime();
var= var.timestamp() Number of fractional days since pick epoch 1967-12-31 00:00:00 UTC. Negative for dates before.

A floating point with approx. nanosecond resolution depending on hardware.

var now1 = var().timestamp(); // was 20821.99998842593 around 2025-01-01 23:59:59 UTC
// or just
var now2 = ostimestamp();
var= var.timestamp(ostime) Construct a timestamp from a date and time
var ts1 var().timestamp(iconv("2025-01-01", "D"), iconv("23:59:59", "MT")); // 20821.99998842593
// or just
var ts2 = timestamp(somedate, sometime);
cmd var.ossleep(milliseconds) Sleep/pause/wait for a number of milliseconds
var().ossleep(3000); // sleep for 3 seconds
// or just
ossleep(3000);
var= var.oswait(milliseconds, directory) Sleep/pause/wait for any activity in a file system directory for a number of milliseconds
var().ossleep(3000, "."); // sleep for up to 3 seconds waiting for activity in current dir
// or just
ossleep(3000, ".");
OS Files
Usage Function Comment
if var.osopen(filename, locale = "")
if var.osbread(osfilevar, io offset, length)
if var.osbwrite(osfilevar, io offset)
cmd var.osclose()
if var.osread(osfilename, codepage = "")
if var.oswrite(osfilename, codepage = "")
if var.osremove()
if var.osrename(new_dirpath_or_filepath)
if var.oscopy(to_osfilename)
if var.osmove(to_osfilename)
OS Directories
Usage Function Comment
var= var.oslist(globpattern = "", mode = 0) Returns a FM delimited string containing all matching dir entries given a dir path

A glob pattern (e.g. *.conf) can be appended to the path or passed as argument.

var entries1 = "/etc/"_var.oslist("*.cfg"); // "adduser.conf^ca-certificates.conf^ ..."
// or just
var entries2 = oslist("/etc/" "*.conf";
var= var.oslistf(globpattern = "") Same as oslist for files only
var= var.oslistd(globpattern = "") Same as oslist for files only
var= var.osinfo(mode = 0) Return dir info for a dir entry

A short string containing size ^ FM ^ modified_time ^ FM ^ modified_time
mode 0 default
mode 1 returns "" if not a file
mode 2 returns "" if not a dir
See also osfile() and osdir()

var dirinfo1 = "/etc/hosts"_var.osinfo(); // "221^20597^78309"
// or just
var dirinfo2 = osinfo("/etc/hosts");
var= var.osfile() Return dir info for a file

A short string containing size ^ FM ^ modified_time ^ FM ^ modified_time
Alias for osinfo(1)

var dirinfo1 = "/etc/hosts"_var.osfile(); // "221^20597^78309"
// or just
var dirinfo2 = osfile("/etc/hosts");
var= var.osdir() Return dir info for a dir.

A short string containing FM ^ modified_time ^ FM ^ modified_time
Alias for osinfo(2)

var dirinfo1 = "/etc/"_var.osdir(); // "^20848^44464"
// or just
var dirinfo2 = osfile("/etc/");
if var.osmkdir() Makes a new directory and returns true if successful.

Including parent dirs if necessary.

if (not "abc/def"_var.osmkdir()) ...
// or just
if (not osmkdir("abc/def")) ...
if var.osrmdir(evenifnotempty = false) Removes a os dir and returns true if successful.

Optionally even if not empty. Including subdirs.

if (not "abc/def"_var.osrmdir()) ...
// or just
if (not osrmdir("abc/def")) ...
var= var.oscwd() Returns the current working directory
var cwd1 = var().oscwd(); // "/home/exodus"
// or just
var cwd2 = oscwd();
if var.oscwd(newpath) Changes the current working dir and returns true if successful.
if (not "abc/def"_var.oscwd()) ...
// or just
if (not oscwd("abc/def")) ...
OS Shell/Environment
Usage Function Comment
if var.osshell() Execute a shell command and return true if the process terminates with error status 0 and false otherwise.
let cmd = "ls -l xyz";
if (not cmd.osshell()) ...
// or
if (not osshell(cmd)) ...
if var.osshellread(oscmd) Same as osshell but captures stdout
var intext;
if (not intext.osshellread("ls -l xyz")) ...

// or just capturing stdout but ignoring exit status
intext = osshellread("ls -l xyz");
if var.osshellwrite(oscmd) Same as osshell but provides stdin to the process
var outtext = ...
if (not outtext.osshellwrite("grep xyz")) ...
// or
if (not osshellwrite(outtext, "grep xyz")) ...
var= var.ostempdirpath() Get the path of the tmp dir
var v1 = var().ostempdirpath(); // "/tmp/"
// or just
var v1 = ostempdirpath();
var= var.ostempfilename() Create and get a temporary file
var tempfilename1 = var().ostempfilename(); // "/tmp/~exoEcLj3C"
// or just
var tempfilename2 = ostempfilename();
if var.osgetenv(envcode) Get the value of an environment variable
var home1;
if (not home1.osgetenv("HOME")) ... // "/home/exodus"
// or just
var home2 = osgetenv("HOME");
cmd var.ossetenv(envcode) Set the value of an environment variable code
envvalue.ossetenv(envcode);
// or just
ossetenv(envcode, envvalue);
var= var.ospid() Get the os process id
let pid = var().ospid(); // 663237
// or just
let pid = ospid();
var= var.ostid() Get the os thread process id
let tid = var().ostid(); // 663237
// or just
let tid = ostid();
Output
Usage Function Comment
expr var.output() stdout no new line, buffered
expr var.outputl() stdout starts a new line, flushed
expr var.outputt() stdout adds a tab, buffered
expr var.logput() stdlog no new line, buffered
expr var.logputl() stdlog starts a new line, flushed
expr var.errput() stderr no new line, flushed
expr var.errputl() stderr starts a new line, flushed
expr var.output(prefix) stdout with a prefix, no new line, buffered
expr var.outputl(prefix) stdout with a prefix, starts a new line, flushed
expr var.outputt(prefix) stdout with a prefix, adds a tab, buffered
expr var.logput(prefix) stdlog with a prefix, no new line, buffered
expr var.logputl(prefix) stdlog with a prefix, starts a new line, flushed
expr var.errput(prefix) stderr with a prefix, no new line, flushed
expr var.errputl(prefix) stderr with a prefix, starts a new line, flushed
expr var.put(std::ostream& ostream1) Output to a given stream
cmd var.osflush() Flushes any buffered output to stdout/cout
var().osflush();
// or just
osflush();
Standard Input
Usage Function Comment
expr var.input() Wait for stdin until cr or eof
expr var.input(prompt) Ditto after outputting prompt to stdout
expr var.inputn(nchars) Wait for nbytes from stdin
if var.isterminal() true if terminal is available
if var.hasinput(milliseconds = 0) true if stdin bytes available within milliseconds
if var.eof() true if stdin is at end of file
if var.echo(on_off) Reflect all stdin to stdout if terminal available
cmd var.breakon() Allow interrupt Ctrl+C
cmd var.breakoff() Prevent interrupt Ctr+C