if

if


go Index Level paragraph
Syntax if {"|'}string1{"|'} [<|l|=|e|>|g] {"|'}string2{"|'} then go label
Category TCL
Type Command
Description conditional branch statement in a paragraph

The if statement compares the two string operators. If they are both numeric, then they are compared numerically. If either or both cannot be converted to a number, then they are compared alphabetically.

Between the two strings is a single-character conditional operator which may be one of the following:

<,l  Less Than
=,e  Equal To
>,g  Greater than

If the condition evaluates to true, then the paragraph processor starts searching from the beginning of the paragraph for a label which matches the one after the "go" statement, but which must be followed by a colon and a space.  When this label is found, execution of the paragraph continues on the line containing the label.

One of the string parameters in an if statement is usually an input substitution.
Options
See Also paragraph << then go
Example if <<Input a number between 1 and 10:>> > 5 then go greater
display Less than or equal to 5
if 1 = 1 then go done
greater: display Greater than 5
done: * There must be a space after the colon

This example asks the user for a number, and then prints a result based on the value of this number.  Note how the "if" statement is used on the third line to implement an unconditional branch.
Warnings
Compatibility AP 6.1
go Index Level paragraph