Operators and Functions for Strings
The following operators and functions are supported for strings:
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==
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Compares strings as equal.
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!=, <>, ~=
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Compares strings as unequal.
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+
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Concatenates strings.
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itos(num)
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Converts numbers to strings. Here, num can be a number or an expression. Nonintegers are rounded off.
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rtos(real)
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Converts real numbers to strings. Here, real can be a parameter, dimension, or a decimal number.
For example,
A=rtos(123.456789) => A= 123.456789
B=rtos(123.456789,3) => B= 123.457
C=rtos(123.456789,4,yes) => C= 1.2346e02
A, B, and C are string parameters.
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search(string, substring)
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Searches for substrings. The resulting value is the position of the substring in the string (0 if not found). You can specify substrings with single or double quotes.
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extract(string, position, length)
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Extracts pieces of strings.
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string_starts (string 1, string 2)
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TRUE, if the value of string 1 starts with the value of string 2.
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string_ends (string 1, string 2)
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TRUE, if the value of string 1 ends with the value of string 2.
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string_match (string 1, string 2)
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TRUE, if the value of string 1 matches the value of string 2.
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string_match (string 1, string 2)
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TRUE, if the value of string 1 matches the value of string 2.
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string_match (string 1, string 2)
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TRUE, if the value of string 1 matches the value of string 2.
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string_pattern (string 1, string 2)
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TRUE, if the value of string 1 matches the value of string 2.
For example,
string_pattern(c,"asm[0-9]*"), then:
• c = asm123—returns TRUE
• c = asm1—returns TRUE
• c = asm_a—returns False
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For example:
If param = abcdef, then:
• flag = param == abcdef—returns TRUE
• flag = abcdef != ghi—returns TRUE
• new = param + ghi—new is abcdefghi
• new = itos(10 + 7)—new is 17
• new = param + itos(1.5)—new is abcdef2
• where = search(param, bcd)—where is 2
• where = search(param, dcd)—where is 0
• new = extract(param,2,3)—new is bcd
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If you use the itos or rtosfunction on a parameter whose value is zero (0), the return value is an empty string.
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The following examples illustrate the itos function:
integer_param = 4
string_param = itos(integer_param)
/*string_param will return 4 */
integer_param = -7
string_param = itos(int_param)
/*string_param will return -7 */
For an integer with zero (0) value, the itos function returns a null ("") value as shown below:
integer_param = 0
string_param = itos(int_param)
/*string_param will return an empty or null string ("") */
To return a zero string value ("0"), use the following IF statement:
integer_param = 0
string_param = itos(integer_param)
IF string_param == ""
string_param = "0"
ENDIF
string_param = itos(integer_param)
IF string_param == ""
string_param = "0"
ENDIF