Generic Object Interfaces (aime)

8.1 Generic Object Interfaces

Converters from the ‘object’ type to other types are available in the form <type> __<type-name>(object), where <type> and <type-name> are replaced by the aime types and their names. Among them:

cardinal __cardinal(object);
data __data(object);
date __date(object);
decq __decq(object);
file __file(object);
integer __integer(object);
list __list(object);
real __real(object);
record __record(object);
sshell __sshell(object);
text __text(object);
time __time(object);
xshell __xshell(object);

The:

__object
__hold
__id
__referable
__type

__object

object __object(object);

function is not a converter by itself, but the implicit converters allows it to be used to box data of any type.

__hold

object __hold(integer c, object o, object r);

is o if c is not zero, r otherwise.

    __hold(c, 101, "Bus 101")

evaluates to the ‘object’ boxed ‘integer’ 101 if c is not zero, to the ‘object’ boxed ‘text’ Bus 101 otherwise. As for any function, arguments are evaluated before the function call.

__id

integer __id(object o);

is the type ID describing data boxed by o (type IDs are numerical values uniquely describing the aime types).

__referable

integer __referable(object o);

is non zero if the type of data boxed by o allows multiple data references, zero otherwise.

__type

text __type(object o);

is the type name describing data boxed by o.