Operators

Introduction

The Operators blocks in VEXcode CTE handle mathematical calculations and string manipulations. These blocks allow for performing arithmetic, evaluating conditions, and processing text.

Below is a list of available blocks:

• math operator – Performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

• comparison operator – Compares two values using greater than, less than, or equal operators.

• logical operator – Evaluates multiple conditions using and or or.

• not operator – Inverts a Boolean value.

• range operator – Checks if a number falls within a range.

• pick random – Generates a random number within a specified range.

• round number – Rounds a number to the nearest whole number.

• math functions – Applies operations such as square root, trigonometry, logarithms, and exponentiation.

• atan2 – Computes the inverse tangent of y/x.

• remainder – Returns the remainder of a division operation.

• join – Combines two strings into one.

• letter – Extracts a character from a string by position.

• length – Returns the number of characters in a string.

• contains – Checks if a string includes a specific word or character.

• convert – Converts a number into text, a whole number, or a decimal.

math operator

The math operator block performs basic arithmetic on the values placed on either side. It returns a result based on the project’s print precision, which defaults to 0 decimal places but can be adjusted using the set print precision block.

The Math operator reporter block.

    ([0] [math_plus v] [0])

Parameters	Description
value 1	The first number used in the operation.
operator	The mathematical operator to use: + - Addition - - Subtraction * - Multiplication / - Division
value 2	The second number used in the operation.

Example

  when started
  [Perform basic addition and show two decimal places.]
  set print precision to [0.01 v] 
  print ([10] [math_plus v] [10.5]) on console ▶

comparison operator

The comparison operator block returns a Boolean indicating whether the comparison between two values is true or false.

• True – The comparison is correct (e.g., 5 > 3 returns True).

• False – The comparison is incorrect (e.g., 2 ≥ 5 returns False).

The Comparison operator Boolean block.

    <[0] [math_equal v] [0]>

Parameter	Description
value 1	The first value to compare.
operator	The comparison to use: = - Equal to < - Less than ≤ - Less than or equal to > - Greater than ≥ - Greater than or equal to
value 2	The second value to compare.

Example

  when started
  [Increment until passed x = 90.]
  repeat until <([arm v] position [x v] in [mm v] :: custom-arm) [math_greater_than v] [200]>
  increment [arm v] position by x:[50] y:[0] z:[0] [mm v] ▶

logical operator

The logical operator block returns a Boolean indicating whether the logical condition between multiple values is true or false.

• True – The logic condition is met.

• False – The logic condition is not met.

The Logical Operator Boolean block.

    <<> [and v] <>>

Parameter	Description
condition 1	The first Boolean condition to evaluate.
operator	The logical operator to use: and - Returns True if both conditions are True. or - Returns True if at least one condition is True.
condition 2	The second Boolean condition to evaluate.

Example

  when started
  [Increment arm if it is able to do so.]
  forever
    if <<[arm v] is done moving?> [and v] <[arm v] increment position by x:[50] y:[0] z:[0] [mm v]?>> then
    increment [arm v] position by x:[50] y:[0] z:[0] [mm v] ▶
    end
  end

not operator

The not operator block inverts the result of a Boolean block. If the input is True, it returns False, and if the input is False, it returns True.

• True – The input condition would normally return False.

• False – The input condition would normally return True.

The Not Operator Boolean block.

    <not <>>

Parameter	Description
condition	The Boolean condition to be inverted.

Example

  when started
  [Rotate end effector until facing 90 degrees.]
  repeat until <not <([arm v] orientation [yaw v] in degrees) [math_less_than v] [90]>>
  increment [arm v] orientation by [yaw v] [30] degrees ▶

range operator

The range operator block returns a Boolean indicating whether a value falls within a specified range.

• True – If the value is within the range.

• False – If the value is outside the range.

The Range Operator Boolean block.

    <[0] [math_less_than v] [0] [math_less_than v] [0]>

Parameter	Description
first operator	The comparison operator to use: < - Less than ≤ - Less than or equal to > - Greater than ≥ - Greater than or equal to
value	The value to check.
second operator	The comparison operator to use: < - Less than ≤ - Less than or equal to > - Greater than ≥ - Greater than or equal to

Example

    when started
    [Move arm until y position is passed 150 mm.]
    forever
    if <[-5] [math_less_than v] ([arm v] position [y v] in [mm v] :: custom-arm) [math_less_than v] [150]> then
    print [Moving!] on console ◀ and set cursor to next row
    increment [arm v] position by x:[0] y:[50] z:[0] [mm v] ▶
    else
    print [Done moving!] on console ▶
    break

pick random

The pick random block returns a random integer within the specified range.

The Pick Random reporter block.

    pick random [1] to [10]

Parameters	Description
min	The lowest possible number that can be picked.
max	The highest possible number that can be picked.

Examples

  when started
  [Display a number between 1 and 10.]
  print (pick random [1] to [10]) on console ▶

round number

The round number block returns the given number rounded to the nearest whole number, following standard rounding rules:

• If the decimal is 0.5 or greater, the number rounds up.

• If the decimal is less than 0.5, the number rounds down.

The Round Number reporter block.

    (round [0] to [0] decimal places)

Parameter	Description
number	The number to round.
decimal places	The amount of decimals places to round to.

Example

  when started
  [Display the rounded result of 10 / 3.]
  set print precision to [0.01 v]
  print (round ([10] [math_division v] [3]) to [1] decimal places) on console ▶

math functions

The math functions block applies a selected mathematical function to a given number and returns the result. It supports operations such as absolute value, rounding, square roots, trigonometric functions, logarithms, and exponentiation.

The Math Functions reporter block.

    [abs v] of [0]

Parameter	Description
function	The mathematical operation to apply to the input value: abs - Absolute value floor - Rounds down ceiling - Rounds up sqrt - Square root sin - Sine cos - Cosine tan - Tangent asin - Inverse sine acos - Inverse cosine atan - Inverse tangent ln - Natural logarithm log - Base 10 logarithm e^ - Euler’s number raised to a power 10^ - 10 raised to a power negative - Returns the negative of the number
number	The number to apply the function to.

Example

  when started
  [Display the square root of 16.]
  print ([sqrt v] of [16]) on console ▶

atan2

The atan2 block returns the inverse tangent of Y/X as an angle in degrees, representing the angle between the positive X-axis and the point (X, Y).

  (atan2 of x:[4] y:[3])

Parameter	Description
x	The horizontal position of the point, measured from the origin (0,0).
y	The vertical position of the point, measured from the origin (0,0).

Example

  when started
  [Calculate the angle from current position (4, 3).]
  print (atan2 of x:[4] y:[3]) on console ▶

remainder

The remainder block returns the remainder of the division operation between two values.

The Remainder reporter block.

    (remainder of [0] / [0])

Parameter	Description
dividend	The number to be divided.
divisor	The number to divide by.

Example

  when started
  [Display the remainder of 10 / 3.]
  print (remainder of [10] / [3]) on console ▶

join

The join block returns a single string that combines two or more input strings.

The Join reporter block.

    (join [apple] [banana])

parameter	description
string 1	The first string to combine.
string 2	The second string to combine.

  when started
  [Display "VEXcode" in the Console.]
  print (join [VEX] [code]) on console ▶

letter

The letter returns a single-character string from the specified position in the given string.

The Letter reporter block.

    (letter [1] of [apple])

parameter	description
position	The position of the character in the string (starting at 1).
string	The string to extract a letter from.

  when started
  [Display the first letter of "Robot".]
  print (letter (1) of [Robot]) on console ▶

length

The length block returns the number of characters in the specified string, including spaces.

The Length reporter block.

    (length of [apple])

parameter	description
string	The string to measure the length of.

Example

  when started
  [Count the number of characters in "VEX Robotics".]
  print (length of [VEX Robotics]) on console ▶

contains

The contains block returns a Boolean indicating whether the specified string includes the given word or character.

• True – The string includes that specific word or character.

• False – The string does not include that specific word or character.

The Contains Boolean block.

    <[apple] contains [a]?>

parameter	description
string	The main string to search within.
search term	The word or character to check for inside the string.

Example

  when started
  [Check if "robotics" contains "bot".]
  if <[robotics] contains [bot]?> then
    print [The word contains "bot".] on console ▶
  else
    print [Not found.] on console ▶
  end

convert

The convert block returns the value of a number converted to the specified type, either as text or a number.

• text – Converts the number to a string. Numbers must be in string format to work with String Operator blocks.

• number – Converts the number to a decimal (floating-point) value.

The Convert reporter block.

    (convert [0] to [text v])

parameter	description
value	The number to convert.
type	The type to convert the number into: text number

Example

Example coming soon.