argn

Returns the actual number of input/output arguments in a function call

Syntax

[lhs, rhs] = argn()
lhs = argn(1)
rhs = argn(2)

Arguments

lhs: Number of expected Left-Hand-Side output arguments. Is set to 1 when no output argument is expected.
rhs: Number of Right-Hand-Side input arguments provided in the function call.

Description

This function is used inside a function definition. It gives the number of actual inputs arguments (rhs) and output arguments (lhs) passed to the function when the function is called. It is usually used in function definitions to deal with optional arguments.

There is no way to detect whether a Scilab function is called without expected output argument. In this case, lhs returns 1.

Testing the existence of a named input argument with isdef(..,"l") is more robust that with argn(). Please see examples.

Examples

Simple examples:

function [res, res2]=test(a, b)
  [lhs, rhs] = argn()
  [res, res2] = ("abc", %pi);
  disp([lhs rhs])  // <<<<<<<<<<<
endfunction

test();
test(4.321);
test(3, -1);
test(3, -1, a=0);
test(3, -1, c=8);

out1 = test();
[o1, o2] = test(%pi);

--> test();
   1.   0.

--> test(4.321);
   1.   1.

--> test(3, -1);
   1.   2.

--> test(3, -1, a=0);
Wrong number of input arguments.

--> test(3, -1, c=8);
Wrong number of input arguments.

--> out1 = test();
   1.   0.

--> [o1, o2] = test(%pi);
   2.   1.

With varargin and varargout:

function [res, varargout]=test(a, varargin)
  res = "abc";
  varargout = list(%i);
  [lhs, rhs] = argn()
  disp([lhs rhs])  // <<<<<<<<<<<
endfunction

test();
test(4.321);
test(3, -1);
test(3, -1, a=0);
test(3, -1, 8);

out1 = test();
[o1, o2] = test(%pi);
[o1, o2, o3] = test(%pi);

--> test();
   1.   0.

--> test(4.321);
   1.   1.

--> test(3, -1);
   1.   2.

--> test(3, -1, a=0);
   1.   3.

--> test(3, -1, 8);
   1.   3.

--> out1 = test();
   1.   0.

--> [o1, o2] = test(%pi);
   2.   1.

--> [o1, o2, o3] = test(%pi);
   3.   1.

Robust test of the existence of input arguments:

function res=test(a, b, varargin)
    res = ""
    if isdef("a","l")
        res = "a passed."
    end
    if isdef("b","l")
        res = res + " b passed."
    end
    if isdef("c","l")
        res = res + " c passed."
    end
endfunction
clc
test()
test(4.321)
test(4.321, %z)
test(b=3)
test(c=3)
test(-1, c=3)
test(-1, a=2, c=3)
test(b=-1, a=2, c=3)

--> test()
 ans  =

--> test(4.321)
 ans  =
 a passed.

--> test(4.321, %z)
 ans  =
 a passed. b passed.

--> test(b=3)
 ans  =
  b passed.

--> test(c=3)
 ans  =
  c passed.

--> test(-1, c=3)
 ans  =
 a passed. c passed.

--> test(-1, a=2, c=3) // argins in varargin are/become always anonymous
 ans  =
 a passed.

--> test(b=-1, a=2, c=3)
 ans  =
 a passed. b passed.

Another usage:

function concat=myOwnFunction(name, optional)
  [lhs, rhs] = argn()
  if rhs <= 1 then
     optional="my Optional value";
  end
  if rhs == 0 then
     error("Expect at least one argument");
  end
  concat=name+" "+optional;
endfunction

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argn

Syntax

Arguments

Description

Examples

See also