Using Caché ObjectScript - InterSystems Documentation

Arithmetic Operators
5.2.2 Unary Negative Operator (-)
The unary negative operator (-) reverses the sign of a numerically interpreted operand. For example:
Set x = -60
Write " x: ", x,! // -60
Write "-x: ",-x,! // 60
If its operand has a string value, the unary negative operator interprets it as a numeric value before reversing its sign. This
numeric interpretation is exactly the same as that performed by the unary positive operator, described above. For example:
Set x = -23
Write -"32 dollars and 64 cents" // -32
Caché ObjectScript gives the unary negative operator precedence over the binary arithmetic operators. Caché ObjectScript
first scans a numeric expression and performs any unary negative operations. Then, Caché ObjectScript evaluates the
expression and produces a result.
In the following example, Caché ObjectScript scans the string and encounters the numeric value of 2 and stops there. It
then applies the unary negative operator to the value and uses the concatenate operator (_) to concatenate the value “Rats”
from the second string to the numeric value.
Write -"2Cats"_"Rats" // -2Rats
To return the absolute value of a numeric expression, use the $ZABS function.
5.2.3 Addition Operator (+)
The addition operator produces the sum of two numerically interpreted operands. It uses any leading valid numeric characters
as the numeric values of the operands and produces a value that is the sum of the numeric value of the operands.
The following example performs addition on two numeric literals:
Write 2936.22 + 301.45 // 3237.67
The following example performs addition on two locally defined variables:
Set x = 4
Set y = 5
Write "x + y = ",x + y // 9
The following example performs string arithmetic on two operands that have leading digits, adding the resulting numerics:
Write "4 Motorcycles" + "5 bicycles" // 9
The following example illustrates that leading zeros on a numerically evaluated operand do not affect the results the operator
produces:
Write "007" + 10 // 17
5.2.4 Subtraction Operator (-)
The subtraction operator produces the difference between two numerically interpreted operands. It interprets any leading,
valid numeric characters as the numeric values of the operand and produces a value that is the remainder after subtraction.
The following example performs subtraction on two numeric literals:
Write 2936.22 - 301.45 // 2634.77
The following example performs subtraction on two locally defined variables:
Using Caché ObjectScript 37