Procedure's default argument bypass Request

[Joakim Christiansen]

Empty expressions would be the same:

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Ax(100,200, , , , ,4)
Ax(100,200,,,,,4)

+2 to this feature!

[MachineCode]

+3 for empty params ("first,,,,fifth"). That's how Commodore BASIC did it, which I grew up with.

[moogle]

+1, been using this in VBA for a while.

[Shield]

I'd be in favor of named parameters as it's just more clear.

(Actually I'm in favor of being able to overload procedures, but I'm pretty sure we won't get that
at least for a very long time, so... )

[BorisTheOld]

I'd be in favor of named parameters as it's just more clear.

I agree. And as you say, it's a good way to simulate overloading.

Statements such as:

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Result = Format(Integer=x, Mask=y)
Result = Format(Double=x, Mask=y)

are much easier to read, and less prone to error, than:

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Result = Format(,,,,,,x,,,,,,y)
Result = Format(,,,,,x,,,,,,,y)

Something to remember is that blank or missing operands can create problems if passed by value, since it's impossible to tell the true meaning of a value. Is it the value of the operand, or is it a marker to show that the operand is blank? Operands passed by reference are easier to manage, since a zero address indicates the absence of a value.

[ozzie]

Something to remember is that blank or missing operands can create problems if passed by value, since it's impossible to tell the true meaning of a value. Is it the value of the operand, or is it a marker to show that the operand is blank? Operands passed by reference are easier to manage, since a zero address indicates the absence of a value.

"Blank or missing operands" should not be a problem, because parameters may only be omitted if they have a default value in the Procedure definition. That is the way it has been in VB6 for years and works well. However, having said that I'm certainly in favor of named parameters - which is a feature VB6 doesn't have!

[charvista]

And I prefer the use of asterisks, as showed at the top of this thread.
After all, Fred will decide, if ever this feature will be implemented. If both asterisks/blanks and named variables are going to be implemented, then everybody will be happy

[gnasen]

I stumbled upon this different times. If I only want to set one of the last optional parameters, I have to look up all standard settings of the parameters before this one. It would make things a lot easier!