On further investigation I think perhaps the line in the docs: SET ERROR VARIABLE ON/OFF Is in error. I think the correct version would be:
SET ERROR VARIABLE varname SET ERROR VARIABLE OFF This typo has been in the docs since at least rbase 2000. The correct syntax lives on in RBDOS. This sequence: SET ERROR VARIABLE vErr SET ERROR VARIABLE OFF SET ERROR VARIABLE ON Creates a variable "ON" which then becomes the new error variable. This seems to confirm the typo in the docs. I did confirm that SET ERROR VARIABLE OFF does indeed stop errors from showing up in vErr. SET ERROR VARIABLE vErr Is the only way to reestablish vErr as the active error variable. Dennis McGrath ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dennis McGrath Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 4:33 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Error Variable I agree. Once the error variable is set up there is no reason to change it or clear it. The value only lives until the next command anyway. I have never found any use for SET ERROR VARIABLE ON/OFF If I need to catch and retain an error value I simply set another variable to equal it immediately. Of course, all this does not mean that that someone somewhere hasn't found a unique way to use this command! In all my 25 years with RBASE, I have never seen anyone mention making use of this command. Dennis McGrath ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 4:12 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Error Variable For what it's worth, I don't think I have ever used the "set error variable on / off". I looked at a dozen client's startup files, not one in there. Just a: set var vError INT = NULL set error variable vError Karen I just noticed this and although it probably is unrelated to my issue, I am unsure what the correct syntax is. The help file on SET ERROR VARIABLE states: Syntax: SET ERROR VARIABLE varname SET ERROR VARIABLE ON/OFF And that one should use the SET ERROR VARIABLE OFF instead of Clear Var "You must always set ERROR VARIABLE off, rather than clearing it with the CLEAR VARIABLES command. " However when I issue :
