Arguments of type ANY

The user may specify ANY as the type of an argument (and even as the type of the function return value).

Note:

The use of ANY should be the exception rather than the rule as it switches off argument type checking - an important feature of PML Functions to help make sure correct functioning of the users PML.

In the case an argument of type ANY, a value of any type may be passed as the argument to the function:

define function !!Print(!Argument is ANY)

$P $!Argument

endfunction

Where an argument of type ANY is used, the user may need to find out its actual type before they can do anything with it. The ObjectType() method can be used for this purpose:

define function !!AnyType(!Argument is ANY)

Type = !Argument.pmlobjectType()

if ( !Type EQ 'STRING' ) then

- - do something with a STRING

elseif ( !Type EQ 'REAL' ) then

- - do something with a REAL

elseif ( !Type EQ 'DBREF' ) then

- - do something with a DB Reference

else

- - do something with all other types or give an error

endif

endfunction