Abs

Description

Calculates the absolute value of a number.

Syntax

Abs ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The number for which you want the absolute value

The datatype of n. Returns the absolute value of n.

Examples Example 1

This expression counts all the product numbers where the absolute value of the product number is distinct:

Count(product_number for All DISTINCT Abs (product_number))

Example 2

Only data with an absolute value greater than 5 passes this validation rule:

Abs(value_set) > 5
See also

Count Abs in the PowerScript Reference

Ceiling
Description

Retrieves the smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to a specified limit.
Syntax

Ceiling ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The number for which you want the smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to it

The datatype of n. Returns the smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to n.
Examples Example 1

These expressions both return -4:

Ceiling(-4.2)

Ceiling(-4.8)
Example 2

This expression for a computed field returns ERROR if the value in discount_amt is greater than the smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to discount_factor times price. Otherwise, it returns discount_amt:

If(discount_amt <= Ceiling(discount_factor * price), String(discount_amt), "ERROR")

Example 3

To pass this validation rule, the value in discount_amt must be less than or equal to the smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to discount_factor times price:

discount_amt <= Ceiling(discount_factor * price)

See also

Int Round Truncate Ceiling in the PowerScript Reference

Cos
Description

Calculates the cosine of an angle.

Syntax

Cos ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The angle (in radians) for which you want the cosine

Double. Returns the cosine of n.

Examples Example 1

This expression returns 1:

Cos(0)
Example 2

This expression returns .540302:

Cos(1)
Example 3

This expression returns -1:

Cos(Pi(1))
See also

Pi Sin Tan Cos in the PowerScript Reference

Int
Description

Gets the largest whole number less than or equal to a number.

Syntax

Int ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The number for which you want the largest whole number that is less than or equal to it

The datatype of n. Returns the largest whole number less than or equal to n.
Examples Example 1

These expressions return 3.0:

Int(3.2)

Int(3.8)
Example 2

These expressions return -4.0:

Int(-3.2)

Int(-3.8)
See also

Ceiling Integer Round Truncate

Int in the PowerScript Reference

Max
Description

Gets the maximum value in the specified column.

Syntax

Max ( column { FOR range { DISTINCT { expres1 {, expres2 {, ... } } } } } )

Argument column Description The column for which you want the maximum value. Column can be the column name or the column number preceded by a pound sign (#). Columncan also be an expression that includes a reference to the column. The datatype of column must be numeric. The data that will be included when the maximum value is found. For most presentation styles, values for range are:

FOR range(optional)

ALL (Default) The maximum value of all rows in column. GROUP n The maximum value of rows in column in the specified group. Specify the keyword GROUP followed by the group number: for example, GROUP 1. PAGE The maximum value of the rows in column on a page. For Crosstabs, specify CROSSTAB for range:

CROSSTAB (Crosstabs only) The maximum value of all rows in column in the crosstab. For Graph and OLE objects, specify one of the following:

GRAPH (Graphs only) The maximum value in column in the range specified for the Rows option. OBJECT (OLE objects only) The maximum value in column in the range specified for the Rows option. Causes Max to consider only the distinct values in column when determining the largest value. For a value of column, the first row found with the value is used and other rows that have the same value are ignored. One or more expressions that you want to evaluate to determine distinct rows. Expresn can be the name of a column, a function, or an expression.

DISTINCT (optional)

expresn(optional)

Returns

The datatype of the column. Returns the maximum value in the rows of column. If you specify range, Max returns the maximum value in column in range.

Usage

If you specify range, Max determines the maximum value in column in range. If you specify DISTINCT, Max returns the maximum distinct value in column, or if you specify expresn, the maximum distinct value in column where the value of expresn is distinct. For graphs and OLE objects, you do not select the range when you call the function. The range has already been determined by the Rows setting on the Data property page (the Range property), and the aggregation function uses that range. Settings for Rows include the following:

For the Graph or OLE presentation style, Rows is always All. For Graph controls, Rows can be All, Page, or Group. For OLE controls, Rows can be All, Current Row, Page, or Group. The available choices depend on the layer the control occupies. Null values are ignored and are not considered in determining the maximum. Not in validation rules or filter expressions You cannot use this or other aggregate functions in validation rules or filter expressions. Using an aggregate function cancels the effect of setting Retrieve Rows As Needed in the painter. To do the aggregation, a DataWindow object always retrieves all rows.
Examples Example 1

This expression returns the maximum of the values in the age column on the page:

Max(age for page)

Example 2

This expression returns the maximum of the values in column 3 on the page:

Max(#3 for page)

Example 3

This expression returns the maximum of the values in the column named age in group 1:

Max(age for group 1)

Example 4

Assuming a DataWindow object displays the order number, amount, and line items for each order, this computed field returns the maximum of the order amount for the distinct order numbers:

Max(order_amt for all DISTINCT order_nbr)

See also

Min Max in the PowerScript Reference

Min
Description

Gets the minimum value in the specified column.

Syntax

Min ( column { FOR range { DISTINCT { expres1 {, expres2 {, ... } } } } } )

Argument column Description The column for which you want the minimum value. Column can be the column name or the column number preceded by a pound sign (#). Columncan also be an expression that includes a reference to the column. The datatype of column must be numeric. The data that will be included in the minimum. For most presentation styles, values for range are:

FOR range(optional)

ALL (Default) The minimum of all values in column. GROUP n The minimum of values in column in the specified group. Specify the keyword GROUP followed by the group number: for example, GROUP 1. PAGE The minimum of the values in column on a page. For Crosstabs, specify CROSSTAB for range: CROSSTAB (Crosstabs only) The minimum of all values in column in the crosstab. For Graph and OLE objects, specify one of the following:

GRAPH (Graphs only) The minimum of values in column in the range specified for the Rows option. OBJECT (OLE objects only) The minimum of values in column in the range specified for the Rows option. Causes Min to consider only the distinct values in column when determining the minimum value. For a value of column, the first row found with the value is used and other rows that have the same value are ignored. One or more expressions that you want to evaluate to determine distinct rows. Expresn can be the name of a column, a function, or an expression.

DISTINCT (optional)

expresn(optional)

Returns

The datatype of the column. Returns the minimum value in the rows of column. If you specify range, Min returns the minimum value in the rows of column in range.
Usage

If you specify range, Min determines the minimum value in column in range. If you specify DISTINCT, Min returns the minimum distinct value in column, or if you specify expresn, the minimum distinct value in column where the value of expresn is distinct. For graphs and OLE objects, you do not select the range when you call the function. The range has already been determined by the Rows setting on the Data property page (the Range property), and the aggregation function uses that range. Settings for Rows include:

For the Graph or OLE presentation style, Rows is always All. For Graph controls, Rows can be All, Page, or Group.

For OLE controls, Rows can be All, Current Row, Page, or Group. The available choices depend on the layer the control occupies. Null values are ignored and are not considered in determining the minimum. Not in validation rules or filter expressions You cannot use this or other aggregate functions in validation rules or filter expressions. Using an aggregate function cancels the effect of setting Retrieve Rows As Needed in the painter. To do the aggregation, a DataWindow object always retrieves all rows.
Examples Example 1

This expression returns the minimum value in the column named age in group 2:
Min(age for group 2)
Example 2

This expression returns the minimum of the values in column 3 on the page:
Min(#3 for page)
Example 3

Assuming a DataWindow object displays the order number, amount, and line items for each order, this computed field returns the minimum of the order amount for the distinct order numbers:
Min(order_amt for all DISTINCT order_nbr)
See also

Max Min in the PowerScript Reference

Copyright 2011. Sybase Inc. All rights reserved.

Mod
Description

Obtains the remainder (modulus) of a division operation.

Syntax

Mod ( x, y )
Argument Description

Argument Description x y
Returns

The number you want to divide by y The number you want to divide into x

The datatype of x or y, whichever datatype is more precise.

Examples Example 1

This expression returns 2:

Mod(20, 6)
Example 2

This expression returns 1.5:

Mod(25.5, 4)
Example 3

This expression returns 2.5:

Mod(25, 4.5)
See also

Mod in the PowerScript Reference

Pi
Description

Multiplies pi by a specified number.

Syntax

Pi ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The number you want to multiply by pi (3.14159265358979323...)

Double. Returns the result of multiplying n by pi if it succeeds and 1 if an error occurs.

Usage

Use Pi to convert angles to and from radians.

Examples Example 1

This expression returns pi:

Pi(1)
Example 2

Both these expressions return the area of a circle with the radius Rad:

Pi(1) * Rad^2 Pi(Rad^2)

Example 3

This expression computes the cosine of a 45-degree angle:

Cos(45.0 * (Pi(2)/360))
See also

Cos Sin Tan Pi in the PowerScript Reference

Round
Description

Rounds a number to the specified number of decimal places.

Syntax

Round ( x , n )
Argument Description x n
Returns

The number you want to round. The number of decimal places to which you want to round x. Valid values are 0 through 28.

Decimal. If n is positive, Round returns x rounded to the specified number of decimal places. If n is negative, it returns x rounded to (- n +1) places before the decimal point. Returns 1 if it fails.
Examples Example 1

This expression returns 9.62:

Round(9.624, 2)
Example 2

This expression returns 9.63:

Round(9.625, 2)
Example 3

This expression returns 9.600:

Round(9.6, 3)
Example 4

This expression returns -9.63:

Round(-9.625, 2)
Example 5

This expression returns -10:

Round(-9.625, -1)
See also

Ceiling Int Truncate Round in the PowerScript Reference

Sign
Description

Reports whether the number is negative, zero, or positive by checking its sign.
Syntax

Sign ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The number for which you want to determine the sign

Integer. Returns a number (1, 0, or 1) indicating the sign of n.

Examples Example 1

This expression returns 1 (the number is positive):

Sign(5)
Example 2

This expression returns 0:

Sign(0)

Example 3

This expression returns 1 (the number is negative):

Sign(-5)
See also

Sign in the PowerScript Reference

Copyright 2011. Sybase Inc. All rights reserved.

Sqrt
Description

Calculates the square root of a number.

Syntax

Sqrt ( n )
Argument Description n
Returns

The number for which you want the square root

Double. Returns the square root of n.

Usage

Sqrt(n) is the same as n ^.5.

Taking the square root of a negative number causes an execution error.
Examples Example 1

This expression returns 1.414213562373095:

Sqrt(2)
Example 2

This expression results in an error at execution time:

Sqrt(-2)
See also

Sqrt in the PowerScript Reference

Truncate
Description

Truncates a number to the specified number of decimal places.

Syntax

Truncate ( x,

n )

Argument Description x n
Returns

The number you want to truncate. The number of decimal places to which you want to truncate x. Valid values are 0 through 28.

The datatype of x. If n is positive, returns x truncated to the specified number of decimal places. If n is negative, returns x truncated to (- n +1) places before the decimal point. Returns 1 if it fails.
Examples Example 1

This expression returns 9.2:

Truncate(9.22, 1)
Example 2

This expression returns 9.2:

Truncate(9.28, 1)
Example 3

This expression returns 9:

Truncate(9.9, 0)
Example 4

This expression returns -9.2:

Truncate(9.29, 1)
Example 5

This expression returns 0:

Truncate(9.2, 1)
Example 6

This expression returns 50:

Truncate(54, 1)
See also

Ceiling Int Round Truncate in the PowerScript Reference