returning value of previous calc?

[gary@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Gary Funck)]

I've got a function that performs some caculations, and it creates
a vector (1-d array) of results.  I know it is doing that, because
it writes the values to a file.

I wanted to call the function repetitively, after the initial call,
with an arg. which is the index into the result array, and have the
function return the value at that index, which was previously
calculated.

Instead, it seems that the value returned is simply the intial value
that the array is set to.  The function is declared as "simple" not
"series", because I want to be able to pass args. that are not constant
into the function.  So, I can't use the trick of fetching a prior value
of the array.

Is my understanding correct, that I can't fetch the prior array
calculations on subsequent calls to the function?


Here's the block diagram for the current logic of my function:

function f(x, len, n) (simple)
...
array: calc[50](0);
if n >= 1 and n <= 50 then begin
    { return the result of the previious calculation }
    f = calc[n];
end else begin
    { .... do the calculations ....}
    for ix = 1 to 50 begin
	calc[ix] = { something complicated (and slow) };
    end;
    f = 0: { this first returned value doesn't matter }
end;


The caller (an indicator/system) is trying to do this:

array: calc[50](0);

    { pass in n=0 to initialize the calculation. }
    value1 = f(C, 20, 0);
    for ix = 1 to 50 begin
	{ pass in n > 0 to retrieve the previous calculations }
	calc[ix] = f(C, 20, ix);
    end;


Before you answer "global variables!" and send me a URL to the
page describing how I can obtain the package (grin), is there anything
like the above set up that will work?

-- 
--
| Gary Funck,  Intrepid Technology, gary@xxxxxxxxxxxx, (650) 964-8135