The simplest thing doesn't seem to work, can someone help? [SOLVED]

davidib · Postby **davidib** » 21 Mar 2013

Hi Guys,

this is so simple I'm almost ashamed to post it but I've pulling my hair out trying to figure out what is going on.

I have a simple function:

Code: Select all

inputs: ftype(NumericSimple), parm0(NumericSimple);

vars: count(0);



switch (ftype)

begin

	//init the counter

	case 0:

		count = 0;

		KR_Test0=0;

	//increment the counter

	case 1:

		count = count + 1;

		print("<A> count is "+NumToStr(count,0));

		KR_Test0 = 0;

	//get the counter

	case 2:

		print("<B> count is "+NumToStr(count,0));

		KR_Test0 = count;

end;

My signal (just a test to call this function) looks like this:

Code: Select all

vars: cnt(0);

//init the function on 1st bar

if(currentbar = 1 ) then

begin

	KR_Test0(0,0);

end;



//increment the counter

KR_Test0(1,0);

//get the counter

cnt = KR_Test0(2,0);

But for some reason the function variable count always is set to 0 in case stmt 2. This is a snippet of the output (tag <A> is when count is incced, tag is when count is returned):
<A> count is 1
 count is 0
<A> count is 2
 count is 0
<A> count is 3
 count is 0
<A> count is 4
 count is 0
<A> count is 5
 count is 0

I really have my tail between my legs on this, I know I'm missing something very obvious, but not sure what it could be. I've tried setting the function type to numeric, series, auto, no change.

Well any help greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

David

mips4pips · Postby **mips4pips** » 21 Mar 2013

Hi David,

The problem here is that EL Functions can not be used to keep track of counters or any other variables between calls to the function, not even if you declare them as intrabarpersist. It's not part of their job.

The fact that in your example it seems to work for case 1, but not for case 2, is just an odd coincidence. If you want to prove this, make 4 or 5 consecutive calls with parameter 1, and you will see that the counter is not really kept by the function.

If you create and maintain your intrabarpersist counter within a signal, then it will keep the correct value. If you need the counter accessible to multiple signals, then I would suggest using Global Variables.

Regards,
Mips4Pips

davidib · Postby **davidib** » 21 Mar 2013

Hey Mips,

thanks ALOT. I knew I was missing some key concept when even the simplest of functions would not retain their values. I've been thru the EasyLanguage manual, don't recall seeing this explicitly stated anywhere, and it's such a foundational concept for all other languages that it's easy to assume EasyLanguage will behave the same way; no wonder why we hate it! But seriously it's my bad for forgetting this most basics of EasyLanguage (I used to do quite a bit of EL programming some time ago).

So I'll just pass in parms by reference and maintain them in the signal, its not as nice but it should do the trick.

arjfca · Postby **arjfca** » 22 Mar 2013

Hey Mips,

thanks ALOT. I knew I was missing some key concept when even the simplest of functions would not retain their values. I've been thru the EasyLanguage manual, don't recall seeing this explicitly stated anywhere, and it's such a foundational concept for all other languages that it's easy to assume EasyLanguage will behave the same way; no wonder why we hate it! But seriously it's my bad for forgetting this most basics of EasyLanguage (I used to do quite a bit of EL programming some time ago).

So I'll just pass in parms by reference and maintain them in the signal, its not as nice but it should do the trick.

You could also use Global variable to keep your values

Martin

The simplest thing doesn't seem to work, can someone help? [SOLVED]

The simplest thing doesn't seem to work, can someone help?

Re: The simplest thing doesn't seem to work, can someone hel [SOLVED]

Re: The simplest thing doesn't seem to work, can someone hel

Re: The simplest thing doesn't seem to work, can someone hel