When and Why use the "Choose" function ?

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi all,

I'm very curious to know who is using this function. Looking around on the posts here, I could rarely find any reference to this function.

But, it seems to me that it could be used more often for validation and evaluation.

Any example around of its concrete use ?

Thanx

[cjaeger]

I use it very often for multi-state buttons, graphics an yes/no situations.

choose(<buttonfield>;"",explanation1;explanation2,explanation3..)

choose(status(currentportalrow);"";graphic1,graphic2;graphic3;..)

it often saves me an auxiliary table or relation when working with (short) lists, although i often prefer to do this with indexed repeating fields* as they are more flexible.

indexed repeating fields:

repetition index field field 1 field2

------------------------------------------------------------

#1 01 val1.1 val2.1

#2 02 val1.2 val2.2

indexed repeating fields can be used for converting fixed length or pipe ("|") separated data into repeats for later retrieval. It saves concenated Middle() and Position() Statements. Or use it to quickly build Clairrvoyance (Type-Ahead keys of arbitrary lenght.

Sample follows shortly.

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Thanks for replying cjaeger,

I'm still little confused though. Sure the sample would help me understand it better.

[Lee Smith]

Hi Ugo,

JMO has a demo file on his site that compares these two funtions, and also times the them in action.

File Name is "Case vs. Position"

www.databasepros.com

HTH

Lee

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi Lee,

Thanx, I've seen it already and surely the Position is quicker than the Case....

But I'm having difficulties understanding the Choose function....

Reading the FM Help

Choose(Result>= 90, "Excellent", R

[slstrother]

Here is a article that may help if you haven't read it yet.

Case vs Choose

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Thanks !!!