Re: Multiple values from a function?

[meron(at)cars3.uchicago.edu]

In article <3961EFA8.49657FB6@mathstat.dal.ca>, Simon de Vet <simon@mathstat.dal.ca> writes:
>I have a function that does a whole lot (it started out as an
>independent program). It works very well when returning one of it's
>calculated arrays.
>
>It also produces a number of other arrays which I'd like to have access
>to.  Unfortunately, I have discovered that a function can only return
>one value.
>
>How can I get the other arrays out of it? The code is intertwined, so it
>would be hard to break into 2 or 3 independent functions.
>
You can easily return them using keyword parameters.  Lets say that 
your function FUN calculates 3 arrays (internally known as XARR, YARR 
and ZARR) and returns XARR.  Then, modify the definition of the 
function to something like

Fuction FUN, ...  ..., second = yarr, third = zarr

	....

    return, xarr
end

Now, if you'll issue a call like

u = Fun( .... ,second = v, third = w)

then after the call U will contain the calculated XARR, V will contain 
YARR, w will contain ZARR.  This can be extended indefinitely.  Note 
that neither U not V or W need to be defined at all, prior to the 
call.

Mati Meron                      | "When you argue with a fool,
meron@cars.uchicago.edu         |  chances are he is doing just the same"