Arithmetic Expressions

Apply the principles below when using expressions in floating point fields.

Syntax

Expressions in floating point fields may be built in any of the following ways:

• Include simple arithmetic operators +, -, *, /, % and ^.

  Example
  Adding to an existing value.

  

  Note:  The % operator returns the remainder when the first number is divided by the second. For example, 5%4 returns 1 because 5 = 1*4 + 1, and 85%4 also returns 1 because 85 = 21*4 + 1.

• Include parentheses ( and ) for more detailed calculations.

  Example
  Adding to an existing value.

  

• Include references to other fields.

  Example
  Setting the Z value to the average of X and Y.

  

• Include references to fields from other rows.

  Example
  Adding the Distance value and From > X coordinate to calculate the To > X coordinate.

  

• Use library functions.

  Example
  Enter the above averaging expression as follows:

  

  See Function library, below, for a list of useful functions.

• Enter this to include the field’s current value in the calculation.

  Example
  Square the current value.

  

Invalid expressions

If you enter an invalid expression, the field is shaded red and the expression remains so that you can correct it.

If you click OK or Apply with an invalid expression, an error message appears. Close the message and correct the error.

Function library

Below are some useful functions for building expressions.

Function	Description	Syntax
abs	Absolute value of x	abs(x)
avg	Average of all the inputs	avg(x,y,z,w,u,v)
ceil	Smallest integer that is greater than or equal to x.	ceil(x)
clamp	Clamp x in range between r0 and r1, where r0 < r1.	clamp(r0,x,r1)
exp	e to the power of x.	exp(x)
floor	Largest integer that is less than or equal to x.	floor(x)
log	Natural logarithm of x.	log(x)
max	Largest value of all the inputs.	max(x,y,z,w,u)
min	Smallest value of all the inputs.	min(x,y,z,w,u)
pow	x to the power of y.	pow(x,y)
root	nth-root of x. where n is a positive integer.	root(x,n)
round	Round x to the nearest integer.	round(x)
sqrt	Square root of x, where x >= 0.	sqrt(x)
sum	Sum of all the inputs.	sum(x,y,z,w,u,v,t)
acos	Arc cosine of x expressed in radians. Interval [-1,+1]	acos(x)
asin	Arc sine of x expressed in radians. Interval [-1,+1]	asin(x)
atan	Arc tangent of x expressed in radians. Interval [-1,+1]	atan(x)
cos	Cosine of x.	cos(x)
sin	Sine of x.	sin(x)
tan	Tangent of x.	tan(x)
deg2rad	Convert x from degrees to radians.	deg2rad(x)
rad2deg	Convert x from radians to degrees.	rad2deg(x)
pi	The constant, pi.	pi
and	Logical AND: True only if x and y are both true.	x and y
not	Logical NOT: Negate the logical sense of the input.	not x not (x and y)
or	Logical OR: True if either x or y is true.	x or y
if	If x is true then return y else return z.	if (x, y, z)
if-else	If the condition is true, return z. If false, return w.	if (x > y) z; else w;

Note:  This is not an exhaustive list.