$ZPREVIOUS (legacy function)

Synopsis

$ZPREVIOUS(variable)
$ZP(variable)

Description

This page describes the legacy function $ZPREVIOUS. It is described here for compatibility with legacy applications. Use of $ZPREVIOUS is discouraged. Rather, use the form $ORDER(variable,-1).

$ZPREVIOUS returns the previous array node subscript for the specified variable. $ZPREVIOUS is similar to the $ORDER function, except that it returns the previous, rather that the next, subscript in the collation sequence.

You can use it to traverse a global in reverse subscript order. To start at the last subscript on a given level, specify the null string for the subscript reference. $ZPREVIOUS returns the null string after it returns the first subscript on the root level.

As with $ORDER, you can use $ZPREVIOUS on both local and global variables.

Example

Given the array node definitions shown, and starting with the last subscript, $ZPREVIOUS returns the following results:

   SET ^ABC(1)=1
   SET ^ABC(2)=2
   SET ^ABC(3)=3
   SET x=$ZPREVIOUS(^ABC("")) ; 3
   WRITE !,"Third is ",x
   SET x=$ZPREVIOUS(^ABC(x))  ; 2
   WRITE !,"Second is ",x
   SET x=$ZPREVIOUS(^ABC(x))  ; 1
   WRITE !,"First is ",x
   SET x=$ZPREVIOUS(^ABC(x))  ; ""
   WRITE !,"Top is ",x

See Also

• $ORDER function

• $ZNEXT function

• $ZREFERENCE special variable