☜	ASCII 46 M[UMPS] by Example					☞

Period, also known as point or dot (".")

ASCII code 46.

This character may be used in numbers to separate the integral part of a number from its decimal fraction.
Set X=12.345

Addition in the 1990 ANSI M[UMPS] language standard:

This character may be used in a parameter list (actuallist) to indicate that a parameter is passed by reference.
Do LABEL^ROUTINE(A,12,.X)

This character may be used to indicate that a line in a routine is part of a block of code that may only be invoked by means of an argumentless DO command.
Set K="" For  Set K=$Order(^D(K)) Quit:K=""  DO
. Set L="" For  Set L=$Order(^D(K,L)) Quit:L=""  DO
. . ; process one occurrence of ^D(K,L)
. . Quit
. Quit

Approved for addition in a future M[UMPS] language standard:

The period is introduced as the separator between parts of the name of a property or a method of an object. The part "to the left" of the period must be a handle or pointer to an object, the part "to the right" is the name of a property or method of that object (possibly iteratively).

Do word.Insert("Hello World.")
executes the method Insert of the object that is accessible through the value of local variable word.

Set word.bold=1
accesses the object that is accessible through the value of local variable word and sets its property bold to 1 (true).

Set word.Application.Document.PageSetup.PageWidth=11*inch
accesses a series of objects, and eventually sets the property of one object to a new value. The first object is the one that is accessed through the value of local variable word. For this object, the value of the property Application is fetched; this property is a pointer to another object. For that object, the value of the property Document is fetched; this property is a pointer to another object. For that object, the value of the property PageSetup is fetched; this property is a pointer to another object. For that object, finally, the value of its property PageWidth is set to the scalar value 11*inch.

Copyright © Standard Documents; 1977-2024 MUMPS Development Committee;
Copyright © Examples: 1995-2024 Ed de Moel;
Copyright © Annotations: 2003-2008 Jacquard Systems Research
Copyright © Annotations: 2008-2024 Ed de Moel.

The information in this page is NOT authoritative and subject to be modified at any moment.
Please consult the appropriate (draft) language standard for an authoritative definition.

Some specifications are "approved for inclusion in a future standard". Note that the MUMPS Development Committee cannot guarantee that such future standards will indeed be published.

This page most recently updated on 28-Nov-2011, 21:03:46.

For comments, contact Ed de Moel (demoel@jacquardsystems.com)