Get_Next_LPtr(...) function with Get_Last_LPtr

Hi George,

I needed a quick way to determine the number of DATA lines in the current file.

Now a quick (and dirty) would be  numlines = Get_LNum(Get_Last_LPtr-1)

It's dirty because if the last line before the 'Bottom of Data' line is a non-Data line, the result is 0.

So I figured that  numlines = Get_LNum( Get_Next_LPtr( Get_Last_Lptr,-1,"DATA" ) )  would be just the ticket, i.e " starting at Get_Last_Lptr, go backwards until you find a 'DATA' line "
But that also returns a 0 value with RC=8 and Msg=Invalid Get_LNum operand value

Drilling down I find that Get_LNum is innocent and it is Get_Next_Lptr which actually lets the side down.

The statement lastDataPtr = Get_Next_LPtr( Get_Last_Lptr,-1,"DATA" ) terminates RC=8, Msg=Invalid starting line pointer argument

 

I suspect the code kills the request before it evaluates whether or not the search is to go forwards or backwards.

I think a backwards search should be allowed. 

By the way, the message issued is inconsistent with the reverse dilema when using Get_First_LPtr as the starting point.

Using Get_Next_Lptr with a starting point of Get_First_LPtr will allow a forward or backward search and either return a valid result (forward) or RC=8, Msg=Top of file reached (backward)