Macro help. entity list if is_empty

[LasseFred]

Hello.

I simply got into a problem.
I can't exactly figure out how to do this.

I want to check if my list: Selected_ncprogram is empty if it is select all NCPrograms.

I came up with this:

		ENTITY LIST Selected_ncprogram=explorer_selected_entities()
	
		IF is_empty(Selected_ncprogram) {
			ENTITY List Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
		}

		STRING LIST tools = {}
		FOREACH $nc IN $Selected_ncprogram {
               ........

thanks in advance...

[LasseFred]

Ups sorry.. 

The problem is my variable "Selected_ncprogram" is empty after my bracket.

[TK.421]

you have to populate your list after you create it:

STRING LIST selected_ncprogram = {}
FOREACH ncp IN explorer_selected_entities() {
   INT $i = add_last(selected_ncprogram, ncp.name)
}

Now you can go through your list:

FOREACH ncp IN selected_ncprogram {
   do whatever
}

[TK.421]

if you simply want to check if your list is empty you can get the size:

INT i = size(selected_program)

[LasseFred]

thanks for the answer. i am looking for something else.

if i "explore select" some nc programs the macro works fine.

ENTITY LIST Selected_ncprogram=explorer_selected_entities()

But if i dont have some nc programs selected, then list all my nc programs.

with this macro code:

IF is_empty(Selected_ncprogram) {
ENTITY List Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
}

But after that curly brackets } there is end of my IF is_empty. the macro "delete all my listed things in my list Selected_ncprogram"

all the code. 

	ENTITY LIST Selected_ncprogram=explorer_selected_entities()
		
	IF is_empty(Selected_ncprogram) {
			ENTITY List Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
	}

[TK.421]

sorry, i misunderstood.

try this:

	ENTITY LIST Selected_ncprogram=explorer_selected_entities()
	
        INT i = size(Selected_ncprogram)
	IF $i == 0 {
			ENTITY List Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
	}

[LasseFred]

Sorry it doesn't work.

it throws away all the listed variables when it does the last curly bracket }

	ENTITY LIST Selected_ncprogram=explorer_selected_entities()
	
        INT i = size(Selected_ncprogram)
	IF $i == 0 {
			ENTITY List Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
			// it listed all the nc programs
	}
			// throws all the listed variables away

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Read the "Scope of variables" in PowerMill help

ENTITY LIST Selected_ncprogram=explorer_selected_entities()
	
        INT i = size(Selected_ncprogram)
	IF $i == 0 {
		//	ENTITY List Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
		$Selected_ncprogram = folder('NCProgram')
			// it listed all the nc programs
	}

[TK.421 · Accepted solution]

sorry, I should've paid closer attention. I'm glad you've got an answer. My code should've been something like this:

IF $i == 0 {
  $selected_program = folder(ncprogram)
}

since the variable is already defined outside the loop. i think by re-initializng it inside the loop, it does not carry through once the loop ends.  Glad you got there!

[LasseFred]

Thanks to your both.

i have forgot all about re-initializing in {curly-brackets}.

it's been some time since i last worked with macro.

but when you get started again. it's like riding a bike 😉