Contents: | Main | Chapter | See Also: | Getting Started Manual | Programmer Manual |
You can use recognized functions as an element in any COMPUTED field expression. A function performs an operation that returns a value. The "VA FileMan Functions" chapter describes the set of functions supplied with VA FileMan; these functions are available to all users. Functions can also be added by making entries in the FUNCTION file (#.5). If you examine this file, you will know all of the functions available to you.
NOTE: The "VA FileMan Programmer Manual" describes how to add functions in the "VA FileMan Functions (Creating)" chapter.
Some functions require an argument or arguments; others are
argumentless. The arguments of the function can be any element,
including field name, field number (preceded with the #),
quoted literal, or even other functions. The SQUAREROOT function, for
example, would take an argument that evaluated to '64' and return '8'.
Thus, if the AGE field of a patient has the value 64, the expression
'SQUAREROOT(AGE)' would equal 8.
MUMPS Functions ($ASCII, $EXTRACT, $RANDOM, etc.) can also be used
as computed-expression Functions. Thus, $P(NAME,",",1) will
return, in the PATIENT File, the Patient's last name. MUMPS
Functions must be abbreviated by their initial character; "$PIECE"
won't work. The FileMan "TRANSLATE" Function is equivalent to
MUMPS "$TRANSLATE".
NOTE: You can find the syntax and description of the functions exported with VA FileMan in the "VA FileMan Functions" chapter.
Reviewed/Updated: March 10,2008