/*****************************************************************************
*                                                                            *
*   DEFVAR.SPL      Copyright (C) 2000 DSP Development Corporation           *
*                               All Rights Reserved                          *
*                                                                            *
*   Author:       Randy Race                                                 *
*                                                                            *
*   Synopsis:     sets a variable if the variable is undefined               *
*                                                                            *
*   Revisions:    17 Feb 2000  RRR  Creation                                 *
*                                                                            *
*****************************************************************************/


#if @HELP_DEFVAR

    DEFVAR

    Purpose: Sets the value of a variable if the variable is undefined

    Syntax:  DEFVAR(vname, val)

              vname - a string, the name of the variable

              value - anything, the value to assign if the variable is
                      undefined

    Returns: Nothing, defines and sets the variable if it is undefined

    Example:
             defvar("myvar", 10)

             If myvar is undefined, myvar is set to 10.0

    Remarks:
             DEFVAR is used by several panels and SPL routines to create
             variables that behave similar to C's static variables.

    See Also:
             Setvar
#endif


/* define a variable if it does not exist */
defvar(vname, val)
{
        local vstr;

        vstr = sprintf("'%s'", vname);
        
        if (not(isvar(eval(vstr))))
        {
                setvar(eval(vstr), val);
        }
}