Lingo Dictionary > G-K > ilk() |  |

ilk()

Syntax

    ilk(object)
    ilk(object, type)

Description

Function; indicates the type of an object.

| The syntax `ilk(``object``)` returns a value indicating the type of an object. If the object is a list, `ilk(``object``)` returns `#list`; if the object is a property list, `ilk(``object``)` returns `#propList`.
| The syntax `ilk(``object, type``)` compares the object represented by `object` to the specified type. If the object is of the specified type, the `ilk()` function returns `TRUE`. If the object is not of the specified type, the `ilk()` function returns `FALSE`.

The following table shows the return value for each type of object recognized by `ilk()`:

Type of Object | ilk(Object) returns | ilk(Object, Type) returns 1 only if Type = | Example
--- | --- | --- | ---
linear list | `#list` | `#list or #linearlist` | `ilk ([1,2,3])`
property list | `#proplist` | `#list or #proplist` | `ilk ([#his: 1234, #hers: 7890])`
integer | `#integer` | `#integer or #number` | `ilk (333)`
float | `#float` | `#float or #number` | `ilk (123.456)`
string | `#string` | `#string` | `ilk ("asdf")`
rect | `#rect` | `#rect or #list` | `ilk (sprite(1).rect)`
point | `#point` | `#point or #list` | `ilk (sprite(1).loc)`
color | `#color` | `#color` | `ilk (sprite(1).color)`
date | `#date` | `#date` | `ilk (the systemdate)`
symbol | `#symbol` | `#symbol` | `ilk (#hello)`
void | `#void` | `#void` | `ilk (void)`
picture | `#picture` | `#picture` | `ilk (member (2).picture)`
parent script instance | `#instance` | `#object` | `ilk (new (script "blahblah"))`
xtra instance | `#instance` | `#object` | `ilk (new (xtra "fileio"))`
member | `#member` | `#member` | `ilk (member 1)`
xtra | `#xtra` | `#object` | `ilk (xtra "fileio")`
script | `#script` | `#object` | `ilk (script "blahblah")`
castlib | `#castlib` | `#object` | `ilk (castlib 1)`
sprite | `#sprite` | `#object` | `ilk (sprite 1)`
sound | `#sound` | `#object` | `ilk (sound "yaddayadda")`
window | `#window` | `#object` | `ilk (the stage)`
media | `#media` | `#object` | `ilk (member (2).media)`

Example

The following `ilk` statement identifies the type of the object named Bids.

    Bids = [:]
    put ilk( Bids )
    -- #proplist

Example

The following `ilk` statement tests whether the variable Total is a list and displays the result in the Message window:

    Total = 2+2
    put ilk( Total, #list )
    -- 0

In this case, since the variable Total is not a list, the Message window displays 0, which is the numeric equivalent of FALSE.

Example

The following example tests a variable named myVariable and verifies that it is a date object before displaying it in the Message window:

    myVariable = the systemDate
    if ilk(myVariable, #date) then put myVariable
    -- date( 1999, 2, 19 )