$slice
Description:
Returns a multi-value variable containing the elements from the start index up to
but not including the end index from the multi-value variable name. A literal
value representing a multi-value can be substituted for name, using the separator
(or a semicolon followed by a space “; ” if not passed) to coerce the value into a
proper multi-valued variable.
Indexes are zero based. Negative numbers will be counted back from the number of elements
in the list. If the start or end indexes are left blank, they will default to 0
and the number of elements in the list respectively.
A typical use might be to create a multi-value variable with all artists in
%artists% except the first, which can be used to create a “feat.” list. This
would look something like $setmulti(supporting_artists,$slice(%artists%,1)).
Example:
The following statements will return the values indicated:
$set(foo,A; B; C; D; E)
$slice(%foo%,1) ==> ""
$setmulti(foo,A; B; C; D; E)
$slice(%foo%,1) ==> "B; C; D; E"
$slice(A; B; C; D; E,1,) ==> "B; C; D; E"
$slice(A; B; C; D; E,1,3) ==> "B; C"
$slice(A; B; C; D; E,,3) ==> "A; B; C"
$slice(A; B; C; D; E,1,3) ==> "B; C"
$slice(A; B; C; D; E,1,-1) ==> "B; C; D"
$slice(A; B; C; D; E,-4,4) ==> "B; C; D"
$slice(A:A; B:B; C:C; D:D; E:E,,1,:) ==> "A"
$slice(A:A; B:B; C:C; D:D; E:E,-2,,:) ==> "D; E:E"
$slice(A:A; B:B; C:C; D:D; E:E,2,4,:) ==> "B; C:C; D"