[NEXT] [PREV]    HANDBOOK / GENTLE PRIMER / Control Structures /

The Predicate where
Gentle
Applications
Concepts
Examples
Handbook
Support
Download

In the previous example, each alternative invoked a procedure process that defined the common result variable C. If no such action is adequate, we have to use something similar to specify the result.

Gentle has a predefined predicate where that merely copies its input to its output. It is defined for each type T 


   'action' where(T -> T)
   'rule' where(X -> X)
This can be used to define variables. For example, 

   where(red -> Col)
defines Col as red

Consider the predicate max with rules 


   'rule' max(X, Y -> X): ge(X, Y)
   'rule' max(X, Y -> Y): lt(X, Y)
If we want to replace an invocation 

   max(A, B -> C)
we can write 

   (| ge(A, B) where(A -> C) || lt(A, B) where(B -> C) |)
Here, C is defined as the maximum of A and B.

In the example, an alternative was selected by giving a condition such as ge as a guard. If we wish to replace a predicate inline, the rules of which are selected by pattern matching, we have to use a different device.

Again, we can use the predefined predicate where. If we supply a pattern as the output value the input value is matched against this pattern. The pattern may contain variables, which are defined if matching succeeds. For examples, 


   where(Col -> red)
succeeds if Col is red.

Consider the predicate MapType(Type -> Rep) with rules 


   'rule' MapType(array(N,Type) -> Rep): ArrayType(N,Type -> Rep)
   'rule' MapType(int -> Rep): IntType(-> Rep)
An invocation 

   MapType(Type -> Rep)
can be replaced by 

   (|
      where(Type -> array(N, Type))
      ArrayType(N, Type -> Rep)
   ||
      where(Type -> int)
      IntType(-> Rep)
   |)
Here, Rep is defined in both alternatives, and therefore by the whole alternative statement. N and Type are variables that are local to the first alternative.





[NEXT] [PREV]