Classic ASP Discussion - function inside a function.

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function inside a function.

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Forum Name: Classic ASP Discussion
Forum Description: Discussion on Active Server Pages (Classic ASP).
URL: https://forums.webwiz.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=11264
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Topic: function inside a function.

Posted By: Badaboem
Subject: function inside a function.
Date Posted: 22 July 2004 at 6:27pm

Is it impossible to have a function inside a function?

I'm working on a page that uses querystrings to call upon certain bits of code.

for example:



Case "Search"

Download_SCSearch()

calls forth everything between

Function Download_SCSearch()

and

end function

.

The issue is that the search fields i'm using between function ''scsearch" requires another function to build SQL query's for the options ''search all'' or ''any words''.

When I put this function inside the one that is called upon by the querystring i receive an error:

Microsoft VBScript compilation error '800a03ea'

Syntax error

Is there a workaround for this? I could create a separate search page, but would rather have it all located in one asp page.

Replies:

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 22 July 2004 at 8:44pm

You can call a function from within another function - an example would be calling IsDate from within a function.

Where you can run into trouble is if the nested function calls the parent function -e.g.

Function1()
   ~Some Code~
   Function2()
        ~some Code~
        Function1()
   End Function
End Function

It can be done, but you have to be very careful with your code.

More than likely, it is a syntax problem with the function parameters - e.g. ByVal vs ByRef, or how they're dimmed. My rule of thumb is that if it returns True/False/A Specific Value. it's a function, else it's a sub routine.

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.

Posted By: Gullanian
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 4:11am

A function calling itself is called a recursive function also.

Posted By: Badaboem
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 5:41am

thanks for your help so far. I've been searching aspin for recursive functions and nested/sub functions but have not found an example of how to arrange functions in a proper manner. I guess I'm not sure what exactlty to look for.

I've simplified the structure that is currently in use and brought it down to the basics in order to see if something else than the function was causing the issue. This is not the case.

the structure is



Function Download_SCSearch() 

'Function to build SQL query's for seach all or any words

search code goes here..



Function BuildSQL (strTable, sarySearchWord)



    'Initilaise variables

    Dim intSQLLoopCounter





    'Initilaise variables

    intSQLLoopCounter = 0



    'Search for the first search word

    BuildSQL = BuildSQL & "(" & strTable & " LIKE '%" & sarySearchWord(0) & "%'"



    'Loop to search for each search word entered by the user

    For intSQLLoopCounter = 1 To UBound(sarySearchWord)



        'If the search is for all words then place AND between the words to be serached

        If strSearchMode = "1" Then

            BuildSQL = BuildSQL & " AND "



        'Else the user has choosen to
search for any words so place OR between the words to be serached

        Else

            BuildSQL = BuildSQL & " OR "

        End If



        'Place the search word in the query

        BuildSQL = BuildSQL &
strTable & " LIKE '%" & sarySearchWord(intSQLLoopCounter) &
"%'"

    Next



    'Close the end of the search words in the SQL query by closing the bracket

    BuildSQL = BuildSQL & ")"

End Function



End Function

very similar to what you described dpyers, so I guess that's the issue right there

. But how can this structure be altered , but the BuildSQL still be nested within Function Download_SCSearch?

Sorry for being the noob I am. This is the first search i'm building along with functions

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 5:44am

Another thing I thought of is either a mispelled/invalid object, property, or method, or you used a keyword for an id.

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.

Posted By: Badaboem
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 5:52am

both functions work when they are not inside of eachother, so it has to be the structure i guess.

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 6:08am

Sorry, I thought you were calling the second function from within the first - not attempting to run it inline. Try this

Function BuildSQL (strTable, sarySearchWord)

'Initilaise variables
Dim intSQLLoopCounter

'Initilaise variables
intSQLLoopCounter = 0

'Search for the first search word
BuildSQL = BuildSQL & "(" & strTable & " LIKE '%" & sarySearchWord(0) & "%'"

'Loop to search for each search word entered by the user
For intSQLLoopCounter = 1 To UBound(sarySearchWord)

        'If the search is for all words then place AND between the words to be serached
        If strSearchMode = "1" Then
           BuildSQL = BuildSQL & " AND "

        'Else the user has choosen to search for any words so place OR between the words to be serached
        Else
           BuildSQL = BuildSQL & " OR "
        End If

        'Place the search word in the query
        BuildSQL = BuildSQL & strTable & " LIKE '%" & sarySearchWord(intSQLLoopCounter) & "%'"
    Next

'Close the end of the search words in the SQL query by closing the bracket
BuildSQL = BuildSQL & ")"
End Function

Function Download_SCSearch()
'Function to build SQL query's for seach all or any words
search code goes here..

BuildSQL (strTable, sarySearchWord)

End Function

In your mailline code, you'd just have the statemet

Download_SCSearch

EDIT: Appears that I led you astray in my initial post. - My aplogies.

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.

Posted By: Badaboem
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 6:18am

So the code below will alow the function BuildSQL to work within function Download_scsearch? (just so i understand correctly). In that case it doesn't matter where the actual functions are located i guess, even if it's outside the initial function that's being called upon ?

BuildSQL (strTable, sarySearchWord)

Posted By: Badaboem
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 6:45am

never mind..
It works as i suspected. Thanks for helping out dpyers.

The only thing i had to add was call in front of BuildSQL (strTable, sarySearchWord).

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 10:16am

The only difference between a function and a subroutine is that a function returns a value and a subroutine doesn't have to.

You really shouldn't have to invoke either with a call in asp 3.0. A function should return abe able to be referenced just like any asp command that returns a value.

As an example, I commonly use a function to validate email addresses that returns true/false. -
Function IsEmail(ByRef asString)

I invoke it in mainline code as...
If IsEmail(strEmailAddress) Then ...

I have a subroutine that pulls html from a remote page into a string
Sub LoadThePage(strPageText, strInputURL)

I invoke it in code by...
LoadThePage strPageText, strInputURL

Neither the function nor the sub require the call statement.

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.

Posted By: Badaboem
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 10:21am

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

Not having call in front of the sub ''function'' produced an error. Google lead me to the microsoft help pages explaining call had to be used in order to use ()

That's why I used it, but I will have a look at your explanations.

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 23 July 2004 at 10:50am

The call is an older asp version hangover... but hey... if it ain't broke... don't fix it

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.