list(expression_list)

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list(expression_list)

This function returns the evaluated format of each of its comma-delimited argument list of expressions.

Expression arguments can be:

• Literal values: Fred - though there's little point in using these unless the list is subsequently to be concatenated to a String.
• Basic literal operations "Fred"+" " +Smith".
• Arithmetic operations: 6/2.
• Attributes $Name, including user attributes $MyNumber.
• Action operators sqrt(2).
• Action code expressions, as in whole code expressions "Date: "+date("today").format("*").

The function is also useful as a method of assembling lists of attributes or expressions for action functions using lists such as count(), max() and min():

FAILS: $MyDate = max($MyDateA;$MyDateB;$MyDateC)

The latter fails as max() interprets the list as 3 literal strings "$MyDataA", etc., and does a lexical sort on those values. however:

WORKS: $MyDate = max(list($MyDateA,$MyDateB,$MyDateC))

Functions creating lists (sum(), links(), collect(), etc.) don't have the same problems with the likes of max as the former output a valid list that can be used directly. For instance:

WORKS: $MyDate = max(links.outbound.attended.$MyDate)

For more complex examples, where list items are action code expressions, it may be necessary to use eval() to wrap each list item expression, e.g. list(eval(expressionA),eval(expressionB)).

Examples

This returns a list of numbers resulting from simple evaluations:

Code: list(4+5,9-3,100/2.5)

Output value, a list: 9;6;40

This example, this makes a single evaluated string out of a list of two expressions:

Code: list("This note 's $Width is "+$Width, "the $Xpos is "+$Xpos).format(" and ")+"!")

Output value, a string: This note's $Width is 3 and the $Xpos is 36.5!

This example is not overly complex but points to how list() can be used in constructing output strings/lists that are otherwise difficult to create. The more complex the expressions passed to list() the greater the likelihood of geting no output - or an unexpected one. If complex inputs don't work consider using more parentheses to help TB figure the order of sub-task execution or else put the result of expressions into new attributes and then pass the value of the latter into list() as a parameter.