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WP INSERT FORMULA

WP INSERT FORMULA ( targetObj ; formula ; mode {; rangeUpdate} )

ParameterTypeDescription
targetObjObject🡒Range or element or 4D Write Pro document
formulaObject🡒Formula object OR Object with formula and name properties
modeNumber🡒Insertion mode
rangeUpdateNumber🡒Includes or excludes the inserted content within the range

Description

The WP INSERT FORMULA command inserts a formula in targetObj according to the specified insertion mode.

In the targetObj parameter, you can pass:

  • a range, or
  • an element (table / row / cell(s) / paragraph / body / header / footer / section / subsection / inline picture), or
  • a 4D Write Pro document.

In the formula parameter, pass the 4D formula to evaluate. You can pass:

  • either a formula object created by the Formula or Formula from string command,
  • or an object containing two properties:
    | Property | Type | Description |
    | ------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | name | String | Name to display for the formula in the document |
    | formula | Object | The formula object created by the Formula or Formula from string command |

When you use an object with a formula name, this name is displayed in the document instead of the formula reference when formulas are displayed as reference, and in the formula tip when displayed as value or symbols. If the name property contains an empty string or is omitted, it is removed from the object and the formula is displayed by default. For more information, see the Managing formulas page.

In the mode parameter, pass one of the following constants to indicate the insertion mode to be used:

ConstantTypeValueComment
wk appendLongint2Insert contents at end of target
wk prependLongint1Insert contents at beginning of target
wk replaceLongint0Replace target contents
  • If targetObj is a range, you can use the optional rangeUpdate parameter to pass one of the following constants to specify whether or not the inserted formula is included in the resulting range:
ConstantTypeValueComment
wk exclude from rangeLongint1Inserted contents not included in updated range
wk include in rangeLongint0Inserted contents included in updated range (default)

If you do not pass a rangeUpdate parameter, by default the inserted formula is included in the resulting range.

  • If targetObj is not a range, rangeUpdate is ignored.

Note: Keep in mind that, when called, the formula object is evaluated within the context of the database or component that created it.

Example 1

To replace all current date formulas with formatted strings:

 var $_formulas : Collection
 var $find;$newFormula : Object
 
  // define the formula to find
 $find:=Formula(Current date)
 
  // define the replacement formula
 $newFormula:=Formula(String(Current date;System date long))
 
  // find all formulas in the document
 $_formulas:=WP Get formulas(WriteProArea)
 
  // query the collection from WP Get formulas
 $_formulas:=$_formulas.query("formula.source =:1";$find.source)
 
  // then replace each formula
 For each($formula;$_formulas)
    WP INSERT FORMULA($formula.range;$newFormula;wk replace)
 End for each

Example 2

You want to use a formula name for the customer name:

  //add some data
 $data:=New object("customer";New object("lastname";"Smith";"firstname";"John"))
 WP SET DATA CONTEXT(WPArea;$data)
 
  //create a formula object with a name
 $o:=New object
 $o.formula:=Formula(This.data.customer.firstname+" "+This.data.customer.lastname)
 $o.name:="Customer name"
 
  //inserts as text
 $range:=WP Text range(WPArea;wk start text;wk end text)
 WP SET TEXT($range;"Dear ";wk append)
 WP INSERT FORMULA($range;$o;wk append)

Result:

See also

Managing formulas
WP COMPUTE FORMULAS
WP FREEZE FORMULAS
WP Get formulas