track_any()

track_any() sets a variable with a tracking value that matches another value. The name of the variable is either track or a non-reserved qualifier on the function.

For example:

$[*][ track_any.my_cities(#city, #zip) ]

This path creates a variable called my_cities. Within that variable each city name will track a zip code. This is a dictionary structure. If no name qualifier is present the variable name is 'track'.

Behind-the-sceens the tracking data structure is like:

my_cities["Washington"] == 20521

track_any() can take the onmatch qualifier. If onmatch is set and the row doesn't match, track_any() does not set the tracking variable

track_any() is a side-effect with no effect on a row matching.

track_any() can take a third argument, either 'add' or 'collect'. If 'collect' is passed the tracked values are pushed on a stack variable. No third argument results in the tracked value being replaced at every line.

If 'add' is passed, the header values indicated by the second argument are added.

Note that track() treats all values as strings; whereas, track_any() attempts to convert values. In the zip code example track_any() would not capture leading zeros, but track() would.

Data signatures
track_any( track under: $${\color{green}str}$$, tracking value: $${\color{green}Any}$$, ['collect' or 'add': $${\color{green}Any}$$] )

Call signatures
track_any( track under: Term ǁ Variable ǁ Header ǁ Function ǁ Reference, tracking value: Term ǁ Variable ǁ Header ǁ Function ǁ Reference, ['collect' or 'add': Term] )

Purpose	Value
Main focus	track_any() is a side-effect

Context	Qualifier
Match qualifiers	onmatch
Value qualifiers	onmatch
Name qualifier	optionally expected

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