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Version: 20 R7 BETA

Parse formula

Parse formula ( formula {; options}{; errorMessage} ) : Text

ParameterTypeDescription
formulaText→Plain text formula
optionsInteger→Instructions for input / output
errorMessageText←Error message (empty string if no error)
Function resultText←Transformed formula (plain text)

This command is not thread-safe, it cannot be used in preemptive code.

Description​

The Parse formula function analyzes the 4D formula, checks its syntax, and returns its normalized form. This allows the formula to remain valid in the event that a 4D language or structure element (command, constant, table, field, or 4D Plugin) is renamed.

Parse formula can be used to evaluate and translate formulas in the following manner:

  • "Real" table/field names can be converted to "virtual" structure* names (custom names) or tokenized equivalents**
  • Tokenized table/field equivalents can be converted to virtual structure names or real table/field names
  • Virtual structures can be converted to real table/field names or tokenized equivalents
  • 4D language elements can be converted to tokenized 4D language equivalents
  • Tokenized 4D language equivalents can be converted to 4D language elements

* Virtual structures are defined using the SET TABLE TITLES and SET FIELD TITLES commands (* parameter required).

** Tokenized equivalents are 4D language and structure elements in plain text *expressed with token syntax as shown below ( see also Using tokens in formulas):

[Table:1]Field:1+String:C10(1)

In formula, pass a formula in plain text. It can use real or virtual structure names, as well as tokenized equivalents.

No matter the name types used in formula, by default Parse formula returns the actual 4D language or structure element names without text tokens.

The optional options parameter allows you to specify how formula is expressed and/or returned using the following constants from the Formulas theme. You can combine constants to designate both the input and output format of the returned formula.

ConstantValueComment
Formula in with virtual structure1Formula contains custom (virtual) names. By default, returned formula contains real names.
Formula out with virtual structure2Returned formula must contain custom (virtual) names.
Formula out with tokens4Returned formula must contain text tokens (e.g. :Cxx).

The optional errorMessage parameter will receive an error message if there is a syntax error in formula. If there is no error, an empty string will be returned.

Example 1​

 ARRAY TEXT($t1;1)
 ARRAY LONGINT($t2;1)
 $t1{1}:="Virtual table"
 $t2{1}:=1
 SET TABLE TITLES($t1;$t2;*)
 
 ARRAY TEXT($tf1;1)
 ARRAY LONGINT($tf2;1)
 $tf1{1}:="Virtual field"
 $tf2{1}:=2
 SET FIELD TITLES([Table_1];$tf1;$tf2;*)
 
  //Virtual structure to table and field name equivalent
 $parsedFormula:=Parse formula("[Virtual table]Virtual field";Formula in with virtual structure;$errorMessage)
  //return [Table_1]Field_2
 
  //Table and field name to virtual structure equivalent
 $parsedFormula:=Parse formula("[Table_1]Field_2";Formula out with virtual structure;$errorMessage)
  //return [Virtual table]Virtual field
 
  //Table and field name to the tokenized form equivalent
 $parsedFormula:=Parse formula("String([Table_1]Field_2)";Formula out with tokens;$errorMessage)
  //return String:C10([Table_1:1]Field_2:2)
 
 

Example 2​

  //ask the user to type their favorite formula
 $formula:=""
 EDIT FORMULA([Table_1];$formula)
 
  //save user's formula for later use
 CREATE RECORD([users_preferences])
 $persistentFormula:=Parse formula($formula;Formula out with tokens)
 [users_preferences]formula:=$persistentFormula
 SAVE RECORD([users_preferences])
 
  //later: execute the previously saved formula
 CREATE RECORD([Table_1])
 EXECUTE FORMULA([users_preferences]formula)

See also​

Formula from string
SET FIELD TITLES
SET TABLE TITLES
Using tokens in formulas