Command: switch

Syntax

switch <gen_value> {
    case <values>: <command_block>
    ...
    default: <command_block>
}

Description

Execute a command or block of commands on the result of a multi-way decision.

Parameters

• switch command:

• <gen_value>
  A generic value. This can be the value of one of the following types:

numeric, point, string, time, epointer, group, symbology (color, font etc.), window, channel, panel, menupane, treenode

Its type will be identified in context.

• case statement:

• <values>
  One or more values of the same type as <gen_value> separated by commas. Arrays may be used in which case all elements are tested individually for a match.

• <command_block>
  One or more commands to be executed if the value of <gen_value> matches any of <values>.

There can be as many case statements as necessary.

• default statement:

• <command_block>
  One or more commands to be executed if the value of <gen_value> does not match any of the <values> in the preceding case statements.

If used, the default statement must follow the last case statement. The word other may be used as an alternative to default if preferred.

Switches

• -u
  Make string-matching case-sensitive. The default behavior is to ignore case differences.

• -w
  Make string-matching treat the case <values> as wild patterns. The default behavior is not to.

Examples

switch x {
    case 1: y=x; # Execute one command
    case 2: { y=x; z=x } # Execute a command block
    case 3: null; # No action
    case 4,5,6: x=25; # Multiple choice
    case xs[1:10]: x=35; # Choice from array range
    default: x=50; # Default action
}

switch ss, -w {
    case 'a*': | ss begins with a
    case 'b*': | ss beigns with b
    default: !ss begins with neither a nor b
}