Appearing initially in v5.7.0, 'dot' operators:
- start with a period character
- are always joined to an attribute or string literal
- apply to a specified range of data types
There are a range of such operators, mainly properties that attach to just Color-type (Color.red) or Date-type (Date.day) attributes, though the majority relate to test-type data (String/.List/Set). In some cases, the operator applies to more than one attribute data type, for example String, List and Set.
In aTbRef listings, dot operators will be referred to with the data type before the dot, e.g Color.blue, so that inline dots in text don't get misread as punctuation. In practice, Color.blue would be used with a Color-type attribute:
$MyColor.red = "#ff"
A Date.minute would attach to a date attribute:
$MyNumber = $MyDate.minute
With text-based dot operators a wider range of use is possible:
$MyNumber = $MyString.size()
$MyNumber = "Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.".size()
$MyNumber = $MyList.size()
$MyNumber = $MySet.size()
$MyNumber = "Euryalus;Galatea;Hermione".size()
Dot operators can be 'chained' to connect a series os tasks.
