RELEASE

Delete public and private memory variables

Syntax

      RELEASE <idMemvar list>
         RELEASE ALL [LIKE | EXCEPT <skeleton>]

Arguments

<idMemvar list> is a list of private or public variables or arrays to delete.

ALL [LIKE|EXCEPT <skeleton>] defines the set of visible private memory variables to assign, or to exclude from assignment of, a NIL value. <skeleton> is the wildcard mask to specify a group of memory variables to delete. The wildcard characters supported are * and ?.

Description

RELEASE is a memory variable command that performs one of two actions depending on how it is specified. If RELEASE is specified with <idMemvar list>, the specified public and private memory variables and/or arrays are deleted from memory. Previous hidden instances (public or private variables defined in higher-level procedures) become accessible upon termination of the procedure where the variable was originally created.

If RELEASE is specified with any form of the ALL clause, private memory variables created at the current procedure level are assigned a NIL and not deleted until the current procedure or user-defined function terminates. Public variables are unaffected by this form of the RELEASE command. To release public variables, you must RELEASE them explicitly or use CLEAR MEMORY.

Local or static variables are not affected by the RELEASE command. Local variables are released automatically when the procedure or user- defined function (where the variables were declared) terminates. Static variables cannot be released since they exist for the duration of the program.

Seealso

CLEAR MEMORY, LOCAL, PRIVATE, PUBLIC, QUIT