LotusScript's Evaluate command (Page 3)

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LotusScript's Evaluate command (continued)

Here are some examples:

In the following line, the document being referenced contains a field SourceField:


	Result = Evaluate(|@ReplaceSubstring(SourceField; "errr";"error")|, doc)

In the following line, which uses extended syntax to reference the field SourceField, will not work:


	Result = Evaluate(|@ReplaceSubstring(doc.SourceField(0); "errr";"error")|, doc)

In Notes releases 4.1x and 4.5x, the following line (which uses variables to pass some of the @function parameters) will not work:


	find$ = "errr"

	replace$ = "error"

	Result = Evaluate(|@ReplaceSubstring(SourceField; find$; replace$)|, doc)

More code
The following sample script illustrates how the Evaluate statement may be used to emulate @ReplaceSubString. It makes a copy of the value in a field, SourceField, replaces all instances of 'e' with 'b' and places the result into another field (ReplacedField).


Dim w As New notesUIWorkspace

Dim uidoc As notesUIDocument

Dim doc As notesDocument

'set a constant to the @function using single quotes around the "search for" and the "replace with" parameters

Const Eval$ = |@ReplaceSubstring(SourceField;"e";"b")|

'dim the variable which will be the result of the evaluate statement as Variant

Dim result As Variant

Set uidoc = w.currentDocument

Set doc = uidoc.document

result = Evaluate(Eval$,doc)

'result of the Evaluate statement produces an array so must use subscript

doc.ReplacedField = result

Call doc.Save( True, True )

Avoid Evaluate in these situations
If you use the LotusScript Evaluate statement with certain @functions, the result is not what you expected.

The Evaluate statement is designed to work with non-UI @functions only. The following @functions cannot be used with the Evaluate statement:

@Command (and @PostedCommands)
@DbLookup
@DbColumn
@DDEInitiate
@DDETerminate
@DDEExecute
@DDEPoke
@Prompt
@DialogBox
@PickList

Conclusion
The LotusScript language continues to mature with each iteration, but a favorite @Function always exists. The Evaluate function allows these favorites to be utilized in LotusScript routines.

Product availability and resources
For Tony Patton's article, "Random number generation using LotusScript," in the October 2001 issue of DominoPower, visit http://www.dominopower.com/issues/issue200110/random001.html.

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Jeff Gunther is the General Manager of Intalgent Technologies (at http://www.intalgent.com), a Notes and Domino consulting firm based in Northern Virginia providing collaborative solutions with specific expertise in the healthcare industry. Jeff can be reached at jeff.gunther@intalgent.com.