Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!ucbvax!stlvm20.vnet.ibm.com!liebtag From: liebtag@stlvm20.vnet.ibm.com ("David Liebtag") Newsgroups: comp.lang.apl Subject: Rank, From, etc. and APL2 Message-ID: <9105201628.AA20201@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: 20 May 91 16:27:58 GMT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.9105201628.AA20201 Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Lines: 25 Bob Bernecky correctly points out that the real of topic of discussion should be how to apply an arbitrary function to an arbitrary subset of an array. Unfortunately, I am not willing to be the heavy (read APL2 advocate) in this discussion. Although I do believe that APL2's nested arrays are very useful in a wide variety of situations, in these particular cases (where you're trying to select subsets of rectangular arrays) I agree that Rank is the correct solution. I too wish APL2 included it. However, I don't get to call all the shots in APL2 development. Other people are involved in the decision about what gets into APL2 in any particular release cycle. I don't feel I am qualified to carry on the argument and I feel there would be a conflict of interest (since I'm on your side on this one.) Hope this doesn't just sound like a cop-out. Regards, David Liebtag