To implement the function content, you can create and use local variables. You can use the entire functionality of PAscript to implement function content. Use the return keyword to prematurely terminate evaluation of a function.

Local Variables in Functions

Define local variables in functions the same way you define local variables in the main program.

Refer to Local Variables for more information.

Local variables in the program are different from local variables in functions:

  • Local variables in the program retain the value of the variables even after the program terminates. If you call the program again, the variables have the value from the last time the program ran.
  • Local variables in the function do not retain the value of the variables. Content of the variables is deleted when the function processes and control passes back to the caller. If you call the function again, the variables have the initialization value.

Return

Use the return keyword to end the function sequence and return to the caller of the function.

The current return values transfer to the caller. In contrast to calling return directly in the program, not all of the program processing is terminated in this case.

Example

program
  // program code
endprogram

function real64 result = myFunction(int32 mode, real64 input)
  if mode == 1 then
    result = -input
    return
  endif

  // more function code

endfunction

If the mode parameter has a value of 1 in the previous example, the return value result is written with -input. Then, the function evaluation ends. If mode is not equal to 1, the function continues.

Note At the end of a function, return is not required. The compiler implicitly adds return.