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= (arithmetic evaluation)

Evaluate a mathematical function (deprecated)

Description

= evaluates a mathematical function and returns it’s output

This is a deprecated feature. Please refer to expr instead.

Usage

<stdin> -> = evaluation -> <stdout>

= evaluation -> <stdout>

Examples

As a method

» let age=18
» $age -> = < 21
true

» $age -> = < 21 -> if { out "Under 21" } else { out "Over 21" }
Under 21

As a function

» let age=18
» = age < 21
true

» = age < 21 -> if { out "Under 21" } else { out "Over 21" }
Under 21

Inlining as a function

» let age=18
» if { = age < 21 } then { out "Under 21" } else { out "Over 21" }
Under 21

Detail

Variables

There are two ways you can use variables with the math functions. Either by string interpolation like you would normally with any other function, or directly by name.

String interpolation:

» set abc=123
» = $abc==123
true

Directly by name:

» set abc=123
» = abc==123
false

To understand the difference between the two, you must first understand how string interpolation works; which is where the parser tokenised the parameters like so

command line: = $abc==123
token 1: command (name: "=")
token 2: parameter 1, string (content: "")
token 3: parameter 1, variable (name: "abc")
token 4: parameter 1, string (content: "==123")

Then when the command line gets executed, the parameters are compiled on demand similarly to this crude pseudo-code

command: "="
parameters 1: concatenate("", GetValue(abc), "==123")
output: "=" "123==123"

Thus the actual command getting run is literally 123==123 due to the variable being replace before the command executes.

Whereas when you call the variable by name it’s up to = or let to do the variable substitution.

command line: = abc==123
token 1: command (name: "=")
token 2: parameter 1, string (content: "abc==123")

command: "="
parameters 1: concatenate("abc==123")
output: "=" "abc==123"

The main advantage (or disadvantage, depending on your perspective) of using variables this way is that their data-type is preserved.

» set str abc=123
» = abc==123
false

» set int abc=123
» = abc==123
true

Unfortunately is one of the biggest areas in Murex where you’d need to be careful. The simple addition or omission of the dollar prefix, $, can change the behavior of = and let.

Strings

Because the usual Murex tools for encapsulating a string (", ' and ()) are interpreted by the shell language parser, it means we need a new token for handling strings inside = and let. This is where backtick comes to our rescue.

» set str abc=123
» = abc==`123`
true

Please be mindful that if you use string interpolation then you will need to instruct = and let that your field is a string

» set str abc=123
» = `$abc`==`123`
true

Best practice recommendation

As you can see from the sections above, string interpolation offers us some conveniences when comparing variables of differing data-types, such as a str type with a number (eg num or int). However it makes for less readable code when just comparing strings. Thus the recommendation is to avoid using string interpolation except only where it really makes sense (ie use it sparingly).

Non-boolean logic

Thus far the examples given have been focused on comparisons however = and let supports all the usual arithmetic operators:

» = 10+10
20

» = 10/10
1

» = (4 * (3 + 2))
20

» = `foo`+`bar`
foobar

Read more

Murex uses the govaluate package. More information can be found in it’s manual.

Synonyms

• =

See Also

• Define Environmental Variable (export): Define an environmental variable and set it’s value
• Define Global (global): Define a global variable and set it’s value
• Define Global (global): Define a global variable and set it’s value
• Define Variable (set): Define a variable (typically local) and set it’s value
• Expressions (expr): Expressions: mathematical, string comparisons, logical operators
• Get Item ([ Index ]): Outputs an element from an array, map or table
• Get Nested Element ([[ Element ]]): Outputs an element from a nested structure
• If Conditional (if): Conditional statement to execute different blocks of code depending on the result of the condition
• Reserved Variables: Special variables reserved by Murex
• Variable And Config Scoping: How scoping works within Murex
• %(Brace Quote): Initiates or terminates a string (variables expanded)
• let: Evaluate a mathematical function and assign to variable (deprecated)

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This document was generated from builtins/core/typemgmt/math_doc.yaml.