function MySortaGlobal( xValue )
static xKeep

if xValue == NIL
else
xKeep := xValue
endif

return xKeep — RanchWest

When a value is passed, it is stored in xKeep and xKeep is returned. When no value is passed, the function returns what is stored in xKeep.

Now I understand.

So, if I use a function multiple times, it stores the last time xKeep was changed?

Yes

Now that you understand that, you could pass in two values. One is the lookup and the other is the change value (or no value). You could then have a do case structure to lookup the value.

do case
case cY == "TURN TIME"
xReturn := aMyStaticValues[hManifest_Constant_For_TURN_TIME]
case cY == "%MEDIAN"
xReturn := aMyStaticValues[hManifest_Constant_For_%MEDIAN]
end case

Got it.
There is ONE "keep" value or could you have xKEEP,yKEEP,ZKEEP, xFred, TommyBoy and any other number of variables?

Yes, you can have more than one value. My last example there holds the values in an array, but you could pass in multiple parameters. That might get a bit tricky if you're not always passing all of the parameters in and out.

I must be missing something here because I don't see what is gained by calling the function to receive the previous variable.

If you set xKeep to a value, what is the advantage over simply making xKeep a global variable?

Since you can only have one xKeep, it is, in effect, a global variable.

Ah... You could make the function thread-specific.
Small gain there.

Am I on the right track?

Let's say you have 10 sections to your handicapping program. And, you use Strength in 6 of those sections. At the top of your program, you can store the Strength value. As you go in and out and in each of the 6 sections where Strength is displayed, you can access it as an already computed value, which is faster than recomputing it every time. And, obviously you are only computing it one time, which means you are only computing it one way... which is clearly way better than the way a beginner might do it, computing in each of the 6 sections, possibly resulting in 6 different ways of calculating the value. Obviously there needs to be a function to calculate Strength.

I understand what you are saying.

Thank you.

I just had another thought. Organize your calculations between what needs to be re-calculated for scratches and what doesn't.

That's a given.