Ron Wuerth wrote:

> Now, question...if I'm reading your scripts correctly,
> in your return variable (assuming there is a match)
> on the "search" script where you do the following:
>
>       setvar !_s_return_var "![_ma_rec!bin_return]"
>
> aren't you just putting a line like the following into
> the "_s_return_var"...
>
> "1     one"    #(no quotes)

yes, the whole record for the matched key is 'returned'

> I know you can play with things like "str" to pull out
> the "one" but I was under the impression you really
> wanted to input the key, and get ONLY the value
> back ready to go.

well, for my example, yes.  but for general purpose needs, the 'str' function
is needed.

> I bring this up because I finally got "smart" and did a
> "help functions" at the CI.  By doing that I rediscovered
> the "word" function.

(you do know the whole purpose of this exercise is to get everyone digging into
'help', right? :-)

> 1.  The obvious, you can now return JUST the value you're
>       looking for.

...and my original prototype (that never really saw the light of day) did just
that.

> 2.  If used correctly within your "mkarray" script, you can
>      accept data that is NOT ordered, misaligned, and no need
>      for even a binary search, because you have direct access
>      once the array is created.

hmmm....  that's right :-)

> to this:
> =========================
> 'mkarray'
> setvar _ma_eof finfo(HPSTDIN,"eof")
> while setvar(_ma_eof,_ma_eof-1) >= 0
>   input _ma_rec
>   setvar _ma_key word("!_ma_rec",,1)    # <=== is key only [added]
>   setvar _ma_val!_ma_key word("!_ma_rec",,2)  # <=== is value only
> endwhile
> ======================

assuming (and that's that dangerous thing :-) the data is word-able, then yes.

> We use the ACTUAL "key" numeral (the first data item
> in the rec) as the array index, (which makes it more like
> a hash).

yes....  what if the key isn't numeric?  i think we're still ok.....?

> Now to search for a specific value to use IF available,
> instead of the "binsrch" routine you have direct access
> as follows:

all-in-all -- you've made several excellent observations!          - d

--
Donna Garverick     Sr. System Programmer
925-210-6631        [log in to unmask]

>>>MY opinions, not Longs Drug Stores'<<<

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