Pat
pat allows you to check the conformity of a string according to a pattern.
pat(EXPR_STR,EXPR_PAT)EXPR_STR is a string or CLOB expression that contains the string to be tested.EXPR_PAT is a string or CLOB expression that contains the pattern used for the verification. # Does the string MY_STRING contain the word SAGE ?If pat(MY_STRING, "*SAGE*")# SAGE is contained in the MY_STRING valueEndif# Verify that MY_STRING starts with a letter, followed by exactly 3 characters and a digitIf pat(MY_STRING, "!???#")<>0# pattern verifiedEndif# Use a "like" clause on the databaseLocal File BPCUSTOMER Where pat(BPCNAM,"*SAGE*")<>0 : # Where BPCNAM like '%SAGE%'# If <>0 is not given, the result is the same, but the filter is not transmitted to the database# abnd is performed by the engine, which is less efficientLocal File BPCUSTOMER Where pat(BPCNAM,"*SAGE*") : # X3 engine filterpat allows you to verify that a string corresponds to a pattern. A pattern is a set of characters including meta characters.
Any character that is not a meta character must correspond to the character found in the string. The meta characters are the following:
* represents any number of characters (possibly no character).? represents exactly one character.# represents a digit.! represents a letter.pat returns an Integer value that can be 1 (if the string is conform), or 0 (if the string does not correspond to the pattern).
In a where clause used on File or Filter, the result of the function pat must be followed by =0 or <>0 to send to the database a "like" or a "not like" condition.
The function format$ can also be used in complex cases to check the validity of a string against a format. The result of the formatting will be a blank string if the format does not work.
For example, if you need to check that a string has three uppercase letters followed by 2 digits, the corresponding test can be written: If format$("KA:3A3#",MY_STRING)=space$(6)# MY_STRING is not conform to the formatEndif| Error code | Description |
|---|---|
| 10 | At least one of the arguments is not a string. |