0111 - Multiple Choice Variable as a Text Value
Description:
How to use a multiple choice variable as a text value.
How to use a multiple choice variable as a text value.
"Select One Only" MC Variable: SET TextVar TO MCVar "The value of the multiple choice is: " + MCVar FIRST( MCVar , 2 ) MCVar CONTAINS "Ralph Malph" "Select All That Apply" MC Variable: SET TextVar TO "«MCVar»" SET TextVar TO "«MCVar::a, b and c»" "The value of the multiple choice is: «MCVar»" "The value of the multiple choice is: «MCVar::a, b and c»" FIRST( "«MCVar»" , 2 ) "«MCVar»" CONTAINS "Ralph Malph" but ... MCVAR = "Ralph Malph"
The Problem. When a multiple choice variable is set to "Select All That Apply," something unexpected happens: It no longer returns a text value. Notice in the first set of examples above that a multiple choice variable set to "Select One Only" always returns a text value. It can be used just like a text variable. But when the multiple choice variable is changed to "Select All That Apply," the variable no longer returns a text value. Trying to use it as a text variable will produce an error.
The Solution. You can coerce a text value from a multiple choice variable in the same way that you coerce text values from date, number, and true/false variables. Namely, place the variable between chevrons within a quoted string. This is demonstrated in the second set of examples above. When you do this, it is advisable to provide a list formatting example as shown. If you fail to provide a formatting example the selections will be returned in a columnar list (a carriage return between each answer). For a further description of how to include formatting examples and other extended information for a variable, see Computation #0093: Variable Arguments.