Difference between Numeric expression and attribute?

ETGgames

So, yeah, what the difference between the two when stating the condition for a rule?

MentalDonkeyGames

With numeric expression you can have an expression / equation on both sides of the condition.

Example:
If TableCellValue() > TableCellValue()

ETGgames

Yes I know, but then what purpose does attribute serve - its essentially a nerfed version of numeric expression?

Armelline

In the past there was no numeric expression, only attribute. So it's partly that numeric expression was a feature addition and they couldn't remove attribute as it was used in lots of projects. That said, there's a good argument to be made that the simplicity of attribute is beneficial in a lot of cases - not to mention it being quicker and easier to add one.

tatiang

Expressions can contain all sorts of things, from attributes to constants to quoted text. They are extremely versatile. But attributes are also valuable in that they are variables and can therefore store values. There's no way to store or save an expression value. Attributes can also be named so unless there was a way to name and reference expressions, attributes would be better for many things. Tables are an extension of attributes that build upon them and almost make them unnecessary.

Armelline

@tatiang said:
Tables are an extension of attributes that build upon them and almost make them unnecessary.

Heresy! :P

The_Gamesalad_Guru

@Armelline said:

@tatiang said:
Tables are an extension of attributes that build upon them and almost make them unnecessary.

Heresy! :P

To the rack with him!

tatiang

Now I've done it...

Socks

@tatiang said:
Tables are an extension of attributes that build upon them and almost make them unnecessary.

Off with his head !

Braydon_SFX

See - these are the questions I like: tabes. But people always answer before I can get to it!

Darn you @MentalDonkeyGames @Armelline and @tatiang !

Socks

@tatiang said:
There's no way to store or save an expression value.

There was a time when Mac Creator had Numeric Expressions as a condition while PC Creator did not, I used to tell PC people wanting to use a Numeric Expression to do the expression prior to the rule/condition.

So with Mac Creator you would do . . . .

Rule - When ((self.score + 100)/2)+self.bonus . . . . is less than 80 then do some stuff.

Whereas with PC Creator you would do . . .

Action - Change A to ((self.score + 100)/2)+self.bonus
Rule - When A . . . . is less than 80 then do some stuff.

. . . so in that respect you can store/save an expression value, unless you meant something different ?

tatiang

@Socks said:
. . . so in that respect you can store/save an expression value, unless you meant something different ?

@Socks no, I agree that it's possible to store/save an expression value in an attribute. I was referring to the concept of somehow storing/saving an expression without needing attributes (or tables).

This question...

@ETGgames said:
Yes I know, but then what purpose does attribute serve - its essentially a nerfed version of numeric expression?

...led me to explain why you would still need attributes.

Socks

@tatiang said:

@Socks said:
. . . so in that respect you can store/save an expression value, unless you meant something different ?

@Socks no, I agree that it's possible to store/save an expression value in an attribute. I was referring to the concept of somehow storing/saving an expression without needing attributes (or tables).

You can store them without attributes (or tables), you can write them on the back of your hand, or if you want to keep it under-the-table, on the back of your eyelids, I also wouldn't rule out your knees, you'd be surprised how much data can be stored on your knees with good good biro technique.