Compare and Hold [CMPH]

Return to Complete List of Functions

The Compare and Hold function compares two values and determines which one is greater. Parameters ------------------ Value 1      One of the values to compare. This is typically a field in a data series or a calculated value. Value 2      The other value to compare. This can be a constant, a field, or a calculated value. Function Value ------------------------ If value 1 is greater than value 2, it returns +1. If value 1 is less than value 2, it returns -1. If value 1 and value 2 are equal, the last return value is returned again. Usage ----------- This function can be useful for determining direction without reacting to situations when the data doesn't change. To do this, use compare and hold to compare the current value of a data series to its previous value. A +1 indicates the value is increasing (or was last increasing). A -1 indicates the value is decreasing (or was last decreasing). The change in this function can also be used to detect when a value crosses a threshold. When the value changes between +1 and -1, the first value has crossed below the second value.