PA_GetPointerKind

version 2003

PA_GetPointerKind (pointer) → PA_PointerKind

Parameter	Type		Description
pointer	PA_Pointer	→	The pointer to analyze
Function result	PA_PointerKind	←	Type of pointer

Description

The routine PA_GetPointerKind returns the type of pointer .

NOTE

4th Dimension pointers are not standard C pointers. They are structures that tell 4D to what kind of data they point: a table, a field, or a variable (process or interprocess).

Since a pointer does not have the same definition and use in interpreted and compiled mode, the developer should use the accessors of this API.


   
    
     PA_GetPointerKind

returns a value of type


   
    PA_PointerKind

, defined in PublicTypes.h as:

typedef enum
{
   ePK_InvalidPointer   = -1,
   ePK_PointerToVariable   = 0,
   ePK_PointerToTable,
   ePK_PointerToField
} PA_PointerKind;

Example

Check the kind of a pointer before using the object pointed to by it:

   short DoWithTablePointer (PA_Pointer thePtr)
   {
      /* . . . code . . . */
      if ( PA_GetPointerKind( thePtr ) != ePK_PointerToTable )
         return kMY_ERROR_BAD_4DPOINTER;
      /* . . . code . . . */
   }

Error Handling


 
  PA_GetLastError()

keeps the last error that occurred before calling the routine.